Agriculture: Competition

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the level of competitiveness in the farming industry; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: British farmers work extremely hard in challenging circumstances and the competitiveness of the industry is a key concern of the Government. Between 1973 and 2008, the productivity (measured as total factor productivity(1)) of UK agriculture grew by 55 per cent.(2) In addition to productivity, the international competitiveness of UK farming also depends, at least partially, on the strength of sterling against the currencies of our major competitors. The recent weakening of the £ against the euro since mid-2008 has meant that British agricultural exports are priced more competitively against our European competitors thereby strengthening our position on the EU export markets. However, in order to maintain competitiveness in the longer term, the industry must improve its productivity performance relative to the farming industries in our main competitor countries, and the Government are committed to helping them do so.
	(1) Total factor productivity is a physical measure of productivity and encompasses all businesses engaged in farming activities, including specialist contractors. Total factor productivity excludes subsidies.
	(2) Source: AUK 2008 Chapter 10, paragraph 6.

Cabinet: Glasgow

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what expenditure on  (a) travel,  (b) accommodation and  (c) food (i) he and (ii) officials in his Department incurred in connection with the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009.

Huw Irranca-Davies: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's (Hilary Benn) travel costs to and from Glasgow were £744.67. The Department incurred no accommodation costs or food costs associated with his travel.
	One departmental official accompanied him, and his travel cost was £500.25. The official also stayed overnight in London prior to the meeting at a cost of £65.00. He incurred no food costs or other accommodation costs.

Fisheries: Quotas

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date he most recently discussed sea fishing quotas with his counterparts in the devolved administrations; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I regularly discuss fisheries issues with my counterparts in the devolved Administrations; the most recent discussion was at the European Agriculture and Fisheries Council on Monday 25 May 2009.
	The latest discussions I have had with my counterparts that focused specifically on quota were in the run up to our joint announcement on 13 May 2009 to set up a quadrilateral Ministerial Working Group to deliver proposals for quota management and licensing reforms in the UK.

Landfill

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the amounts of money raised from the disposal of waste by the  (a) landfill tax and  (b) Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: Landfill Tax is administered by HM Revenue and Customs. The Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme is a trading scheme between local authorities and as such, the Government do not raise money from it.

Marine and Fisheries Agency: Official Hospitality

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Marine and Fisheries Agency spent on hospitality and entertainment in each of the last five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Marine and Fisheries Agency (formerly the Marine Fisheries Agency) was formed in October 2005.
	The Agency may, with the prior approval of the chief executive and in accordance with DEFRA departmental policies, incur expenditure on hospitality in furtherance of its business including, for example, working lunches, dinners and similar meetings with external stakeholders and representatives of other countries' marine and fishery authorities.
	Since its inception, the Agency has spent the following sums on hospitality:
	
		
			   MFA hospitality (£) 
			 2005-06 63 
			 2006-07 2,104 
			 2007-08 2,150 
			 2008-09 3,158 
		
	
	Information for 2005-06 relates to activities of the Agency from its inception on 1 October 2005. Data relating to previous periods is not readily separable from that of DEFRA.
	The Agency holds no budget for entertainment, and has incurred no expenditure on entertainment.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, column 685W, on waste disposal: fees and charges, which local authorities made initial inquiries about participating in piloting a waste reduction scheme.

Jane Kennedy: We are committed to releasing the names of any local authorities that come forward with formal expressions of interest in piloting a waste reduction scheme; none have yet done so.

Departmental Buildings

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies spent on office removal contracts in each of the last five years.

Geoff Hoon: The requested information is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Central Department  Executive Agencies 
			 2008-09 411 226,816 
			 2007-08 5,257 311,816 
			 2006-07 8,303 153,874 
			 2005-06 3,564 65,938 
			 2004-05 1,251 483,243 
			  Notes:  Central Department Excludes expenditure at DfT HQ and Marine Accident Investigation Branch as the requested data is not separately recorded and is only obtainable at disproportionate cost.  Executive Agencies Excludes expenditure at the Government Car and Despatch Agency, and Maritime and Coastguard Agency as the requested data is not separately recorded and is only obtainable at disproportionate cost

London and Continental Railways

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he plans to maximise the value to the Exchequer of the disposal of  (a) High Speed 1,  (b) Eurostar UK and  (c) other property and remaining assets associated with London and Continental Railways Ltd.

Paul Clark: The Government intend to secure best value in High Speed 1 through a public auction of a long-term concession, the timing of which will depend on an assessment of market conditions.
	Similarly London and Continental Railways Ltd. will develop and dispose of its property assets in due course as is judged to deliver best value in the market.
	The Government are not engaged in a sale of Eurostar (UK) Ltd. and continues to examine ways to best further the development of the successful Eurostar services to the benefit of passengers and in relation to value for the UK taxpayer. We are doing so in conjunction with our international partners.

Armed Forces: Casualties

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed services of each  (a) sex,  (b) age cohort,  (c) regiment and  (d) service stationed in Iraq were (i) killed, (ii) seriously injured and (iii) otherwise injured in each year since 2007.

Bob Ainsworth: Since 1 January 2007, 52 UK service personnel have died while on deployment, or as a result of injuries sustained in Iraq. The figures presented for fatalities are correct as at 19 May 2009. Of the 52 service personnel who have died, information for three soldiers has not been publicly released and therefore their detailed information has been excluded from the tables.
	Since 1 January 2007, three female UK service personnel have died while on deployment, or as a result of injuries in Iraq. These figures are correct as at 19 May 2009.
	The following table provides a breakdown of fatalities by age-group and year.
	
		
			  Age-group  All  2007  2008  2009( 1) 
			 All 52 47 4 1 
			 <20 6 5 0 0 
			 20-24 22 21 0 1 
			 25-29 11 10 1 0 
			 30-34 5 4 1 0 
			 35-39 3 3 0 0 
			 40+ 3 2 1 0 
			 Not released 3 2 1 0 
			 (1) As at 19 May 
		
	
	The following table provides a breakdown of fatalities by service, corps/unit and year.
	
		
			  Service  Corps/unit  All  2007  2008  2009( 1) 
			 All All 52 47 4 1 
			   
			 Naval Service(2) All 0 0 0 0 
			   
			 Army All 43 40 2 1 
			  Army Air Corps 1 0 1 0 
			  Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 1 1 0 0 
			  Corps of Royal Engineers 1 0 1 0 
			  Corps of Royal Military Police 1 1 0 0 
			  Duke of Lancaster's Regiment 5 5 0 0 
			  Foot Guards 3 3 0 0 
			  Intelligence Corps 1 1 0 0 
			  Mercian Regiment 1 1 0 0 
			  Parachute Regiment 2 2 0 0 
			  Princess of Wales Royal Regiment 1 0 0 1 
			  Rifles 9 9 0 0 
			  Royal Armoured Corps 5 5 0 0 
			  Royal Army Medical Corps 2 2 0 0 
			  Royal Corps of Signals 1 1 0 0 
			  Royal Logistic Corps 3 3 0 0 
			  Royal Regiment of Scotland 2 2 0 0 
			  Royal Welsh 3 3 0 0 
			  Yorkshire Regiment 1 1 0 0 
			   
			 RAF All 6 5 1 0 
			  1 Squadron RAF Regiment 3 3 0 0 
			  230 Squadron 1 1 0 0 
			  504 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force 1 1 0 0 
			  903 Expeditionary Air Wing 1 0 1 0 
			   
			 Info not released  3 2 1 0 
			 (1) As at 19 May (2) Naval Service includes Royal Navy and Royal Marines  Note: The breakdown for Army Corps is presented for the current Army structure, following the merger of many regiments over the last few years. Also, detail of an individual's Corp is subject to change as further information becomes available. 
		
	
	Since 1 January 2007, 79 UK service personnel have been very seriously or seriously injured (VSI/SI) while on deployment in Iraq. The figures presented are sourced from the NOTICAS reporting system and include casualties reported up to 16 May 2009. Casualties within the cause category of 'natural causes' are excluded from the figures.
	Information on very seriously and seriously injured casualties by sex for the time period requested cannot be released without disclosing individual identities.
	The following table provides a breakdown of very seriously and seriously injured casualties by age-group and year.
	
		
			  Age-group  Total  2007  2008  2009( 1) 
			 Total 79 69 9 1 
			 <20 years 13 12 1 0 
			 20-24 21 18 2 1 
			 25-29 16 14 2 0 
			 30-34 11 9 2 0 
			 35-39 14 12 2 0 
			 40+ 4 4 0 0 
			 (1) As at 16 May  Note: These figures exclude natural causes 
		
	
	Information on very seriously and seriously injured casualties by regiment, or other service equivalent, for the time period requested cannot be released without disclosing individual identities.
	A breakdown of very seriously and seriously injured casualties by service and year is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Service  Total  2007  2008  2009( 1) 
			 Total 79 69 9 1 
			 Naval Service(1) 1 1 0 0 
			 Army 70 60 9 1 
			 RAF 8 8 0 0 
			 (1) As at 16 May (2) Naval Service includes Royal Navy and Royal Marines  Note: These figures exclude natural causes 
		
	
	Since 1 January 2007,409 UK service personnel have been recorded on the NOTICAS casualty reporting system with a medical listing of Incapacitating Illness/Injury (III), Unlisted Condition (UL) or Minor Injury (MI) while on deployment in Iraq. The figures presented include casualties reported up to 16 May 2009. Casualties within the cause category of 'natural causes' are excluded from the figures.
	Since 1 January 2007,13 female members of UK service personnel have been recorded on the NOTICAS casualty reporting system with a medical listing of III, UL or MI while on deployment in Iraq.
	The following table provides a breakdown of casualties listed as III, UL and MI by age-group and year.
	
		
			  Age-group  Total  2007  2008  2009( 1) 
			 Total 409 243 124 42 
			 <20 years 47 20 18 9 
			 20-24 166 104 46 16 
			 25-29 91 54 29 8 
			 30-34 46 31 14 1 
			 35-39 39 23 11 5 
			 40+ 20 11 6 3 
			 (1)( )As at 16 May  Note: These figures excludes natural causes 
		
	
	Information on the breakdown of casualties by regiment, or other service equivalent, for the time period requested cannot be released without disclosing individual identities.
	The following table provides a breakdown of listed as III, UL and MI by service and year.
	
		
			  Service  Total  2007  2008  2009( 1) 
			 Total 409 243 124 42 
			 Naval Service(2) 17 4 11 2 
			 Army 365 226 100 39 
			 RAF 27 13 13 1 
			 (1) As at 16 May (2)( )Naval Service includes Royal Navy and Royal Marines  Note: These figures exclude natural causes

Armed Forces: Dismissal

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) senior and  (b) junior officers and personnel at (i) senior and (ii) junior ranks in each service have been compulsorily discharged in each year since 2006-07.

Bob Ainsworth: The tables provided show the numbers of personnel in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force that have been compulsorily discharged in each year since 2006-07. The Army is unable to provide this information as it is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Navy figures are for administrative and disciplinary discharge only as all other information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. During this period, the RAF was engaged in a significant redundancy programme to meet manning targets and this is reflected in the table. The RAF figures include personnel who have been discharged under the following exit methods; Administrative and Disciplinary, Medically Unfit and Compulsory and Voluntary Redundancy.
	
		
			  Royal Navy— Officers 
			   Calendar Year 
			   2006  2007  2008 
			 Senior Officers (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Junior Officers 28 35 43 
			 (1) Figures that are less than five are withheld to avoid disclosure of sensitive information 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Navy — Other Ranks 
			   Calendar Year 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Senior Rates (1)— (1)— — 
			 Junior Rates 11 16 13 
			 (1) Figures that are less than five are withheld to avoid disclosure of sensitive information 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Air Force — Officers( l) 
			   Financial Year 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Senior Officers 80 59 — 
			 Junior Officers 30 35 13 
			 (1) Figures are provisional. 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Air Force — Other Ranks( l) 
			   Financial Year 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Senior Ranks 594 341 42 
			 Junior Ranks 524 607 177 
			 (1) Figures are provisional.

Armed Forces: Foreigners

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many non-UK nationals of each nationality are serving in each unit of the armed services.

Kevan Jones: The number of non-UK nationals of each nationality serving in each unit cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. Data by service as at 1 April 2008 is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Trained strength of UK regular forces( 1)  by service and nationality as at 1 April 2008( 2) 
			   All services  Army  Navy  RAF 
			 Total 168,620 93,830 34,530 40,260 
			  
			 British 161,040 87,270 33,750 40,260 
			  
			  Commonwealth( 3) 6,580 6,000 530 40 
			 Antiguan — — — — 
			 Australian 80 60 20 — 
			 Bahamian — — — — 
			 Bangladeshi 10 10 — — 
			 Barbadian 10 10 — — 
			 Belizean — — — — 
			 Botswanan 10 10 — — 
			 Bruneian — — — — 
			 Cameroonian 30 30 — — 
			 Canadian 70 50 20 — 
			 Citizen of Fiji 2,040 1,950 80 10 
			 Citizen of Sri Lanka 10 10 — — 
			 Citizen of St. Kitts — — — — 
			 Cypriot — — — — 
			 Dominican 20 20 — — 
			 Gambian 120 110 10 — 
			 Ghanian 660 650 10 — 
			 Grenadian 50 50 — — 
			 Guyanese 20 20 — — 
			 Indian 60 60 10 — 
			 Jamaican 740 700 30 10 
			 Kenyan 120 110 10 — 
			 Malawian 130 130 — — 
			 Malaysian 10 — — — 
			 Maltese 10 — — — 
			 Mauritian 30 30 — — 
			 Namibian — — — — 
			 New Zealander 80 60 10 — 
			 Nigerian 80 80 — — 
			 Other Commonwealth 10 10 — — 
			 Other West Indian — — — — 
			 Pakistani 10 10 — — 
			 Papua New Guinean — — — — 
			 Saint Helenian — — — — 
			 Saint Lucian 200 200 10 — 
			 Seychellois 10 10 — — 
			 Sierra Leonean 40 40 — — 
			 Singaporean — — — — 
			 South African 770 710 60 — 
			 Swazi 10 10 — — 
			 Tanzanian — — — — 
			 Tongan 10 10 — — 
			 Trinidadian 100 70 30 — 
			 Ugandan 50 50 — — 
			 Vincentian 430 240 190 — 
			 Zambian 20 20 — — 
			 Zimbabwean 480 460 20 — 
			  
			  Other 360 280 60 20 
			 Afghan — — — — 
			 American — — — — 
			 Austrian — — — — 
			 Danish — — — — 
			 Dutch — — — — 
			 Egyptian — — — — 
			 Foreign 10 10 — — 
			 French — — — — 
			 German — — — — 
			 Hong Kong/Chinese — — — — 
			 Irish 280 200 50 20 
			 Iranian — — — — 
			 Iraqi — — — — 
			 Libyan — — — — 
			 Mauritanian — — — — 
			 Nepalese 60 60 — — 
			 Norwegian — — — — 
			 Pacific Islander — — — — 
			 Saudi Arabian — — — — 
			 Sudanese — — — — 
			 Swedish — — — — 
			 Swiss — — — — 
			 Ukrainian — — — — 
			  
			 Unknown(4) 640 279 200 170 
			 "—" denotes zero or rounded to zero.  (1)Trained UK regular forces exclude Gurkhas, full-time reserve personnel and mobilised reservists.  (2 )Provisional.  (3) Includes Zimbabwean and Fijian citizens, who continue to retain Commonwealth status under the British Nationality Act 1981.  (4) Those with an unrecorded nationality.   Note:  Due to ongoing validation of data from the Joint Personnel Administration System, all services strength statistics for 1 April 2008 are provisional and subject to review.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average annual pension payment received by a retired British soldier has been in each year since 1997.

Kevan Jones: The available average annual amount paid to AFPS members for all three services for each year since 1999 are as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Average pension payment (£) 
			 1999-2000 5,493 
			 2000-01 5,698 
			 2001-02 5,941 
			 2002-03 6,154 
			 2003-04 6,405 
			 2004-05 6,739 
			 2005-06 6,736 
			 2006-07 6,728 
			 2007-08 6,941 
		
	
	Information for financial years 1997-98 and 1998-99 are no longer held centrally and could be provided at only disproportionate cost. Figures for 2008-09 are still being finalised.
	The figures provided are based on average pensions paid to former members of the armed forces, their spouses, and dependants. Figures provided are not held in the format requested to reflect average pensions paid to veterans alone. This could be done only at disproportionate cost.
	The figures do not include any Terminal Grants or Commutations paid to AFPS members.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former members of the armed forces in each region have re-enlisted to each  (a) service and  (b) trade in each year since 2000.

Bob Ainsworth: None of the three Services is able to provide this information by region, as it is not held in the format requested. Information for the Naval Service is available broken down by trade, but this is not possible for the Army and Royal Air Force as the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Total numbers of personnel that have re-enlisted in each year are provided in the following tables.
	
		
			  Re-enlistment into the Naval Service by Trade—Officers( 1) 
			   Financial Year 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Warfare — — 2 
			 Air — 8 9 
			 Engineering — — 2 
			 Logistics — 2 3 
			 (1) Figures provided include transfers to the Naval Service from the Army and RAF, and also between RN and RM, in addition to personnel having had previous service in the RN or RM. The numbers include all re-entrants: Trained, those not requiring Phase 2 training; Part-trained, those requiring only Phase 2 training; and untrained, those requiring Phase 1 training. 
		
	
	
		
			  Re-enlistment into the Naval Service by Trade—Other Ranks 
			   Financial Year 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Warfare 55 31 66 
			 Air 9 8 18 
			 Engineering 66 36 78 
			 Logistics 34 22 24 
			 Medical 8 4 7 
			 Other(1) 1 3 3 
			 (1) Photographer and Physical trainer. 
		
	
	
		
			  Re-enlistment into the Naval Service—Royal Marines—Officers and Other Ranks 
			   Financial Year 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Officers — 2 4 
			 Other Ranks 91 128 103 
		
	
	
		
			  Re-enlistment into the Army—Officers and Other Ranks 
			   Financial Year 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Number of personnel 260 385 512 486 
		
	
	
		
			  Re-enlistment into the Royal Air Force—Officers and Other Ranks 
			   Financial Year 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Number of personnel 10 10 18 13 
		
	
	No information is shown for earlier years because this data is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defence Storage and Distribution Agency: Manpower

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received from Commander Fleet on the minimum number of posts required to ensure the safe conduct of operations at the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency, Crombie.

Quentin Davies: No such representations have been received from Commander-in-Chief Fleet.

Defence Storage and Distribution Agency: Manpower

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Defence Equipment and Support risk register for the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency base at Crombie includes a minimum staff requirement.

Quentin Davies: The risk does not appear on the DE&S risk register but is recorded on the technical site risk register. Also, DSDA is undertaking a study looking at DSDA Crombie's future tasking. In common with all similar projects, a risk register is being produced that will include staffing matters and articulate any perceived risks.

Departmental Manpower

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the post of Director General of Safety and Security in his Department is a full-time appointment.

Kevan Jones: Following a change in naming convention, the position of Director Business Resilience replaced that of Director General Security and Safety; it is a full-time post. In keeping with civil service policy on promoting work force diversity and alternative working patterns, full-time positions can be filled by one or more individuals with flexible-working contracts, provided the Department is satisfied that the key outputs of the post can be maintained. The Director Business Resilience post is currently filled on this basis.

Ex-servicemen: Health Services

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on veterans of closures of dedicated military hospitals and wards for veterans.

Kevan Jones: The decision to close most of our military hospitals was taken over a decade ago, after it had become clear that they did not have a sufficient patient volume or range of military cases to develop and maintain the skills of our medical personnel.
	On a typical day we have barely enough military inpatients, in all NHS hospitals across the UK, to fill two wards. This would be insufficient to sustain even a single, low-level civilian hospital and would require all patients to be brought together in one location, which in many cases would involve a major disruption for families and friends as well as for the patient. Meeting the health needs of veterans is the responsibility of the NHS and in the main their needs will reflect the health needs of the wider population. The same argument of not sending patients to a single dedicated hospital to keep it viable would apply equally to the national veteran patient population.
	The House of Commons Defence Select Committee agreed with the policy finding that:
	"the arguments in favour of the closure of the stand-alone Service hospitals irresistible. We accept that the reduction in numbers of personnel which took place in the Armed Forces after the end of the Cold War meant that there was insufficient patient volume to make the military hospitals viable in the long term."

Multinational Space-based Imaging System

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) military and  (b) civilian personnel in his Department are working on the (i) Multinational Space-based Imaging System and (ii) the European Defence Agency's Space Situational Awareness programme.

Quentin Davies: Currently no personnel in the Department, military or civilian participates in either the Multinational Space-based Imaging System or the European Defence Agency's Space Situational Awareness programme. We observe developments in both of these programmes and have the option to participate in the future.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, column 722W, on stamp duty land tax, what assumptions were made about the take-up rate of the stamp duty land tax holiday in calculating the estimated cost of £280 million;
	(2)  what recent assessment has been made of the effect on the housing market of the temporary £175,000 stamp duty land tax threshold.

Ian Pearson: The stamp duty holiday announced on 2 September 2008 provides Government support for homebuyers at a time of difficult conditions. Data on property transactions can be found at
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/survey_of_prop/index.htm.
	The estimated cost of the stamp duty holiday of £280 million was based on the most recent SDLT receipt data and accounting for expected changes in house prices, transactions and behavioural effects available at the time of the pre-Budget report. The Treasury does not publish forecasts of house prices or transaction volumes.
	The cost was updated at Budget 2009 to take account of the latest information available and the extension of the holiday to 31 December 2009. Our latest estimate puts the cost of the original holiday at £250 million, with an additional cost of £90 million for the extension to December 2009.
	Around 90,000 transactions (in addition to those falling below the original £125,000 threshold) have already been exempted from stamp duty by the holiday. Looking ahead the Treasury expects that around 210,000 transactions will benefit from the holiday in total, and that around 60,000 of these will benefit as a result of the extension announced at Budget.

VAT: Repairs and Maintenance

Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the merits of reducing the rate of value added tax on home maintenance and repairs to the minimum rate allowed under EU law.

Stephen Timms: EU Finance Ministers recently agreed to allow all member states to apply a permanent reduced VAT rate of 5 per cent. to a list of labour intensive services, including the "renovation and repairing of private dwellings, excluding materials which account for a significant part of the value of the service supplied".
	The Government apply reduced VAT rates only where it believes these would provide well-targeted and cost-effective support for its policy objectives, compared to other measures, and it continues to keep the impact of VAT on different types of building work under review.

Departmental Correspondence

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the average time taken by his Department to  (a) acknowledge and  (b) respond to letters from hon. and right hon. Members was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Gareth Thomas: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members correspondence. The report for 2008 was published on 1 April 2009. This report and reports for earlier years are available in the Libraries of the House.

Domestic Violence

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what contribution his Department has made to the cross-Government consultation, Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Children and to the development of Government policy in this area.

Ian Pearson: The Violence Against Women and Girls consultation was launched by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Office on 9 March 2009. Although led by the Home Office, it is a cross-Government consultation.
	This Department contributed to the consultation document, and BERR officials are members of the cross-Government steering group which met prior to the publication and will meet, following analysis of the consultation responses, to discuss each Department's input into the Violence Against Women and Girls strategy. The consultation formally closed on 29 May 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to respond to the letter from the right hon. Member for West Derbyshire of 14 January 2009 on the difficulties faced by a constituent's business.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 20 April 2009
	My right hon. Friend the Minister for Employment Relations and Postal Affairs (Mr. McFadden) responded to the right hon. Member on 13 May 2009. I apologise for the delay which was caused by the current high volume of correspondence.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the Secretary of State plans to reply to the letter of 14 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on Mr. Smith, transferred to him by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Gareth Thomas: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Employment Relations and Postal Affairs (Mr. McFadden) responded to the letter from my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton on 2 May. I apologise for the delay which was caused by the current high volume of correspondence.

Departmental Furniture

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies on furniture in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: Departmental and agency expenditure on furniture in the last five years is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
			   Department  Agencies 
			 2004-05 201 166 
			 2005-06 189 149 
			 2006-07 325 176 
			 2007-08 340 226 
			 2008-09 233 183 
		
	
	The Northern Ireland Office procures furniture across a number of sites which are mainly located in Belfast and London. This furniture is required to facilitate staff in providing a quality service and the expenditure has been incurred in accordance with the-principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Climate Change: International Cooperation

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he plans to have with his international counterparts on measures to tackle climate change before the meeting in Copenhagen.

Joan Ruddock: In the build up to the UNFCCC Conference in Copenhagen this December my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be discussing climate change with his international counterparts in a number of multilateral discussions, including through the Major Economies Forum, UN and G8, and through a range of bilateral discussions during the year.
	Already this year my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has undertaken bilateral visits to the United States and China. He expects to make further bilateral visits to countries including Russia, South Africa and India during the year. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to attend next month's Greenland dialogue, hosted by the Danish Government, bringing together many countries involved in the preparations for Copenhagen.

Fuel Poverty

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the  (a) age,  (b) construction type and  (c) Standard Assessment Procedure ratings are of each domestic dwelling included in pilot schemes on the suitability of air source heat pumps for the alleviation of fuel poverty wholly or partly funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The Warm Front Scheme, which is aimed specifically at the fuel poor, has begun a piloting exercise for 200 Air Source Heat Pumps, to evaluate whether this technology should be brought in as a main measure offered through the scheme. Installation of the pumps is due to begin over the summer. DECC has not yet defined the property type which will be used on the pilot, although it is likely that the properties will all be off the gas grid.
	The Energy Savings Trust will be incorporating a portion of these fuel poor properties into its own trial sample, for which it has provided Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) ratings for 35 non-Warm Front properties out of an intended 80, though it is not known how many of these are fuel poor.
	SAP ratings range from 12 (G rating) to 77 (C rating) for the 35 properties for which data is available. There is a range of house types including detached bungalows, mid terraces and large detached houses. Six of the houses were built before 1900 and so have solid walls, although most of these also had extensions built more recently.

International Assistance: Standards

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his most recent assessment is of the effectiveness of measures to ensure transparency in respect of the provision of international aid.

Ivan Lewis: The OECD-Development Assistance Committee produces statistics about past aid flows. However, research shows developing country governments and citizens face challenges in finding out how much aid their country receives. The Department for International Development (DFID) leads the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) which was launched in September 2008. It brings together donors, developing country governments and Non-Governmental Organisations to agree common information standards so they can share more and better information about aid. Agreement on essential elements of the standards is expected by the end of 2009. Further information on IATI is available on the DFID website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk

Pakistan: Armed Conflict

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in  (a) the Swat Valley and  (b) north west Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Access to the Swat Valley is severely constrained for relief agencies; however, information from partners, including the United Nations, suggests that the humanitarian situation in the Swat Valley is very poor. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) states that the region's principal hospital in Mingora has been cut off from water and electricity supply systems. Across the Swat Valley, frequent curfews make it difficult for people to reach basic services.
	Outside conflict areas there are 26 camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), hosting approximately 275,000 people. The humanitarian situation in these camps is stable. Outside the camps and across Pakistan there are estimated to be just over 2 million registered IDPs living with friends, family or in private rented accommodation.

Departmental Official Cars

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 379-80W, on official cars, how many of the cars  (a) owned and  (b) leased by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies are over six years old.

David Hanson: The following table outlines the number of owned and leased cars used by the Ministry of Justice that are over six years old, by engine capacity.
	
		
			   Cars 
			   1000 to 1400cc  1401 to 1700cc  1701 to 2200cc 
			  Vehicles owned
			 National Offender Management Service 2 2 83 
			 Ministry of Justice 14 2 12 
			 
			  Vehicles leased
			 National Offender Management Service 0 0 0 
			 Ministry of Justice 0 0 2 
		
	
	Life expectancy for owned cars, particularly in the Prison Service can be extended beyond average fleet age if recorded mileages are low and the condition of the vehicle has been maintained. The decision to retain any vehicle will be taken after a review of whole-life costs and operational requirements.
	Modern diesel powered vehicles with extended service intervals are capable of recording high mileages, reliably and cost effectively. Consideration of the environmental impact from emissions associated with these older vehicles will also be taken into account.

Departmental Sick Leave

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many staff in  (a) his Department and its predecessor and  (b) its agencies took long-term sick leave in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many days sick leave  (a) in total and  (b) on average employees of (i) his Department and its predecessor and (ii) its agencies took in each year since 1997.

Jack Straw: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) was created on 9 May 2007. The MOJ—and its predecessors, the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Department for Constitutional Affairs—does centrally monitor long term sickness absence but does so by the number of days' absence taken, not by the number of individual staff on long-term sick leave. To obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	Information relating to the total and average sick leave for the MOJ and its predecessors, the Department for Constitutional Affairs and Her Majesty's Prison Service, are shown in the tables. Approximately 1,530 staff transferred from the Home Office to the MOJ on 1 November 2008. However, it would be possible to obtain sick absence figures from the Home Office for these staff only at disproportionate cost. Absence figures for the 51,239 Prison Service staff migrated into MOJ are shown as follows.
	Figures for the Lord Chancellor's Department (prior to 2003-04) and Her Majesty's Prison Service (prior to 1999-2000) are not readily available and to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Department for Constitutional Affairs sickness absence rates 
			   Working days lost  Average staff in post  Working days lost per person 
			 2003-04 128,170 12,154 10.5 
			 2004-05 124,390 12,643 9.8 
			 2005-06 174,096 16,702 10.4 
			 2006-07 276,166 25,395 10.9 
		
	
	
		
			  Prison Service sickness absence rates 
			   Working days lost  Average staff in post  Working days lost per person 
			 1999-2000 542,922 43,111 12.6 
			 2000-01 592,173 43,878 13.5 
			 2001-02 614,150 44,155 13.9 
			 2002-03 668,337 45,419 14.7 
			 2003-04 328,623 47,224 13.3 
			 2004-05 616,367 48,607 12.7 
			 2005-06 578,211 48,419 12.2 
			 2006-07 573,071 49,216 11.6 
		
	
	 Ministry of Justice sick absence rates
	The figure includes MOJ Headquarters, Her Majesty's Court Service, the Office of the Public Guardian, the Tribunals Service and Scotland and Wales Offices.
	
		
			   Working days lost  Average staff in post  Working days lost per person 
			 2007-08(1) 211,807 25,722 8.2 
			 2008-09(2) 184,027 24,099 7.6 
			 (1) Includes all MOJ employees on Home Office systems (MOJ and NOMS HQ) (2) Statistics still to be validated and includes staff that migrated across from HO systems  Source: MOJ Cabinet Office return minus Land Registry and NOMS Agency 
		
	
	
		
			  NOMS agency sick absence rates 
			   Working days lost  Average staff in post  Working days lost per person 
			 2007-08(1) 68,590 58,540 11.6 
			 2008-09(2) 542,821 50,135 10.8 
			 (1) Excludes staff on Home Office systems (2) Statistic still to be validated and includes staff that migrated across from HO systems  Source: NOMS Agency Cabinet Office return

Fixed Penalties

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many of each category of fixed penalty notices were  (a) issued and  (b) paid in each police force area in each month since their introduction.

Alan Campbell: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on the outcomes (endorsable and non-endorsable) of fixed penalty notices for motoring offences from 2004 to 2007 (latest available) are provided in tables 1 to 4 placed in the House Library.
	Available annual information on motoring fixed penalty notices for previous years can be found in the Home Office Statistical publication 'Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales, Supplementary tables'—tables 20(a) to 20(c). Copies of the publication are available in the Libraries of the House.
	Information held by the Ministry of Justice on the number of penalty notices for disorder (PND) issued, paid, unpaid and registered as fines by persons aged 16 and over by offence and police force area in England and Wales for the years 2004 to 2007 (latest available) can be viewed in tables 5 to 8 placed in the House Library. The PND scheme was implemented in all 43 forces in 2004.
	PND data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.

Prison Accommodation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  which  (a) active and  (b) inactive military sites (i) he and (ii) representatives of his Department have (A) visited and (B) inspected in order to assess their suitability for use as prisons since 2005; and if he will publish a report of the findings of each visit or inspection;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the conversion of RAF Coltishall into a category C prison, excluding the cost of the original acquisition of the land and site; what area the site covers; and how many places the prison is planned to provide.

Jack Straw: In 2006, the Ministry of Defence provided a list of sites that were under disposal or planned for disposal shortly. Officials in the National Offender Management Service then undertook desktop exercises to refine the lists, and a number of sites were visited and assessed in further detail. A proposal to convert Connaught Barracks in Dover to a prison was considered, but it was decided not to proceed.
	Following December 2007 Lord Carter's report, "Securing the future; Proposals for the efficient and sustainable use of custody in England and Wales", Ministers agreed to the acquisition of the former RAF Coltishall site in Norfolk and conversion to a prison.
	The prison development at the former RAF Coltishall occupies around 31 acres of the 650 acre site and, once complete, will provide 523 places. The cost is estimated at around £68 million.

Prisons: Barking and Dagenham

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  pursuant to the statement of 27 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 569-71, on prisons and probation (1) how many visits members of his Department have made to the Beam Park West site in connection with the construction of a prison; and when the first such visit took place;
	(2)  when a list of possible locations for a new prison was first drawn up by his Department; how many options considered were in Essex; and on what date the Beam Park West site was added to the list.

Jack Straw: As part of the Capacity Programme, a number of site searches have been carried out to meet a range of requirements.
	Following the publication of Lord Carter's report 'Securing the future; Proposals for the efficient and sustainable use of custody in England and Wales' in December 2007, a list of potential sites for 2,500 place "Titan" prisons was drawn up. This included 12 sites in Essex, but not Beam Park West.
	The Beam Park West site was identified during an exercise to identify potential sites for a prison in London. This was undertaken jointly with the London Development Agency in autumn 2008.
	As announced on 27 April, instead of building three 2,500 place prisons, we will now build five 1,500 place prisons. The Beam Park West site is one of two sites announced on 27 April for these new prisons.
	Following the identification of the Beam Park West site as potentially suitable for prison development, National Offender Management Service officials have visited the site on two occasions, 20 January and 5 February this year.

Prisons: Construction

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  for what reasons the greenfield site at Scarisbrick was under consideration as a potential location for a titan prison; for what reasons he decided not to build a prison on that site; if he will make it his policy to inform local residents when sites are being considered as potential locations for prison developments; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his Department's procedures are for informing local residents when sites in their locality are being considered as potential locations for new prisons; what steps his Department takes to consult local communities on its plans for the location of new prisons; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: As I announced on 27 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 569-80, we will not be proceeding with the 2,500 place "Titan" prisons, but we will be building 1,500 place prisons instead.
	The site at Scarisbrick was one of a number of sites brought to the attention of the National Offender Management Service as part of the site search exercise for "Titan" prisons to hold 2,500 prisoners. It was assessed, but not considered suitable for development as a Titan. There are, therefore, no plans for a prison at Scarisbrick.
	For any new prison, before the submission of planning application for the site of a new prison, officials hold a public exhibition setting out the proposals.

Shoplifting: Convictions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions there were for shoplifting in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008.

Maria Eagle: Data held by the Ministry of Justice shows that there were 62,565 defendants found guilty at all courts for 'stealing from shops and stalls' (shoplifting) under the Theft Act 1968 sec. 1, in England and Wales 2007.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figure given on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to (i) all staff and (ii) senior Civil Service staff in 2008-09; and how many such payments were made.

Jonathan R Shaw: Less than 1 per cent. of the total pay bill is used for non-consolidated performance payments which have to be re-earned each year against pre-determined targets and, as such, do not add to future costs.
	All DWP employees in pay bands below the senior civil service (SCS), are eligible for an annual individual non-consolidated performance payment if they attain a qualifying rating under the annual performance and development system. The amount of payment awarded is differentiated on the basis of an employee's pay band and the performance level achieved and is the same across all business units.
	For the SCS, end of year non-consolidated performance payments are determined on an individual basis by the relevant DWP SCS pay committee.
	Performance awards are payable in July and are attributable to performance in the previous financial year. In the 2008-09 financial year £23.32 million has been paid as follows:
	
		
			  2008-09 
			  Grade  Total paid (£ million)  Total number of recipients 
			 Below SCS 21.50 107,518 
			 SCS 1.82 208 
			 Departmental total 23.32 107,726 
		
	
	In response to the current economic conditions, the Government have frozen the size of the overall amount available for performance awards payable to SCS in July 2009.

Employment and Support Allowance

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what back to work support will be offered to new and existing claimants of employment and support allowance who are not part of the progression to work pathfinders.

Tony McNulty: Nationally, employment and support allowance claimants will continue to have access to back to work support through the successful Pathways to Work Programme, including a series of six mandatory work focused interviews with a personal adviser in the first eight months of the claim. From late 2010 we will extend to two years the period during which new claimants are required to engage with us through work focused interviews. This will provide a more comprehensive framework of engagement in which to address the claimant's barriers to work. Claimants in the support group will not be required to attend any work focused interviews, but will be able to volunteer for Pathways support.
	Additionally, we anticipate that approximately 6 per cent. of new employment and support allowance claimants will be included in the personalised employment programme pilots which will test a single, integrated, flexible employment programme for jobseeker's allowance claimants, new employment and support allowance claimants and parents with younger children. They will be required to engage in a framework of work focused interviews and work related activity for two years. This is subject to the successful passage of provisions in the Welfare Reform Bill.
	Claimants who are migrated from incapacity benefits to employment and support allowance will be subject to different conditionality requirements, as set out in the response to questions 255137 and 255138.

Housing Benefit

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  which local authorities have requested median rents for local housing allowance for accommodation with six or more bedrooms; and what the median rent for such accommodation was in each case;
	(2)  in how many broad market rental areas median rents for accommodation with  (a) six,  (b) seven,  (c) eight,  (d) nine and  (e) 10 or more bedrooms have been estimated; what those broad market rental areas were; and at what level the median rents for accommodation with six or more bedrooms were in each instance.

Kitty Ussher: Local Housing Allowance rates for larger properties are only provided if a local authority requests them. Since Local Housing Allowance was launched in April 2008 156 local authorities have requested a rate for accommodation with six or more bedrooms. The Rent Service has provided Local Housing Allowance rates for properties over six bedrooms in 114 Broad Rental Market Areas. From April 2009, all new claims to LHA are capped at the five bedroom rate.
	A full list of monthly Local Housing Allowance rates for properties with five bedrooms or less, together with maps of the Broad Rental Market Areas, are available on the LHA-Direct website at:
	lha-direct.therentservice.gov.uk/Secure/Default.aspx

Social Security Benefits: Interviews

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Jobcentre Plus plans to employ medical professionals to interview incapacity benefit claimants who would be transferred to the jobseeker's allowance scheme under the proposals of the Welfare Reform Bill.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 11 May 2009
	 We have announced that we plan to migrate existing recipients of incapacity benefits to employment and support allowance. Recipients will have to undertake a work capability assessment in order to determine their eligibility for employment and support allowance. Health care professionals defined in legislation as:
	A registered medical practitioner;
	A registered nurse; or
	an occupational therapist or physiotherapist registered with a regulatory body established by an Order in Council under section 60 of the Health Act 1999(and);
	are employed by our contractors to undertake these assessments. This measure is not provided for by the Welfare Reform Bill currently before Parliament, but by the Welfare Reform Act 2007.

Unemployment: Young People

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance his Department provides for newly unemployed young people.

Tony McNulty: The Government are committed to giving everyone the support they need to find employment as quickly as possible, whatever their age.
	On 6 April 2009, as part of the Government's response to the economic downturn, the Department for Work and Pensions put in place extra support for newly unemployed customers. This will be available from the initial interview at Jobcentre Plus, and can be tailored for those who have recently left a professional or executive job. It will include information and advice about the latest job search techniques and coaching on how to make the most of transferable skills, delivered through one hour group information sessions and one on one advice and coaching.
	In addition to this, since last autumn the Department has quadrupled the available funding for the Rapid Response Service, which provides advice and support to customers facing redundancy. It has also extended Local Employment Partnerships, the Adviser Discretion Fund and Access to Work so they are available to customers from the first day of their claim, alongside the support they receive from their Jobcentre Plus personal adviser.
	This help is available to customers of all ages to ensure that everyone has the best possible chance of finding work.
	For young people who are in danger of slipping into long-term unemployment, funding was provided in the Budget for a guaranteed offer of a job, work-focused training, or meaningful activity to all 18 to 24-year-olds before they have reached the 12 month stage of their claim to jobseeker's allowance. We expect this to be available from early 2010, but we are aiming to get an offer in place as soon as possible, with some jobs available as early as October 2009.

Ministerial Policy Advisers: Conduct

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many investigations there have been into alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers since 27 June 2007.

Liam Byrne: Special Advisers' duties and responsibilities are set out in the "Code of Conduct for Special Advisers". Any investigation into alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers is a matter for individual Departments.
	Copies of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers are available in the Library of the House and also available at
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/special_advisers/code/code.aspx.

Chlamydia: Prisoners

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women's prisons offered chlamydia testing for inmates in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department does not have data on the number of female prisons that offered testing for chlamydia via sexual health services in each of the last five years.
	Sexual health services in prisons are provided by local national health service acute trusts through commissioning arrangements with the local primary care trust in England or Health Board in Wales.
	Such services provide data on tests performed and positive results to the Centre for Infections of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) through KC60 Returns (now phased out) or, more recently, through a system of reporting called GUMCAD (genito-urinary medicine clinical activity data). However, prison-specific data is not currently disaggregated; however, the HPA is currently exploring such disaggregation.

Departmental Written Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of answers to parliamentary questions provided by his Department have been the subject of a subsequent correction in each of the last five years; how many such corrections have been made by  (a) Written Ministerial Correction,  (b) a letter to the hon. Member tabling the Question and  (c) other means; and what criteria his Department uses to determine by which method to issue a correction.

Ben Bradshaw: The procedure for making corrections to answers to parliamentary questions was introduced from November 2007 and information is not available from an earlier date.
	Since November 2007, we have made 22 written ministerial corrections and issued six written ministerial statements to correct written answers. This represents 0.2 per cent. of the 12,310 written Commons questions received during that period. For the criteria used to judge whether a correction or a statement should be issued, I refer the hon. Member to the 2(nd) Report from the Procedure Committee "Corrections to the Official Report" (HC541) on 19 June 2007 and the written ministerial statement issued by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal (Harriet Harman) on 18 October 2007,  Official Report, column 55WS. On each case, we seek advice from the Table Office.

Mentally Ill: Prisoners

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has made to the recommendation made in the Bradley Report on people with mental health problems in the criminal justice system for a minimum target for the NHS of 14 days to transfer a prisoner with acute, severe mental illness to an appropriate healthcare setting.

Phil Hope: The Department is currently exploring ways to make progress towards a 14 day standard waiting time for transfers, through the provision of guidance and support to the national health service and criminal justice system to work in closer partnership and reduce delays for this vulnerable group.
	The Government recognise that there is a need to improve the timeliness of access to secure mental health care by prisoners with acute, severe mental illness. In his report on people with mental health problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice system (published 30 April 2009), Lord Bradley has recommended that a target of 14 days should be set. The Government's Health and Criminal Justice Board, which is just being established, will consider the feasibility of such a target. It will also ensure that where further guidance to the NHS and criminal justice agencies is necessary, this is issued by 2010, so that along with improved commissioning of services and availability of secure health services, the goals of improved security and timely access to secure health services by prisoners can be achieved.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of each local service provider contract for the National Programme for IT is apportioned to the Care Records Service;
	(2)  what the estimated cost of each system within the National Care Records Service is; and what the cost of each contract for delivery of the service is.

Ben Bradshaw: The NHS Care Record Service (NHS CRS) comprises a number of national services, and compliant local applications, for example, trust patient administration systems and general practitioner systems. The key nationally-funded components of the NHS CRS are delivered via the spine and the local service provider (LSP) contracts.
	The estimated lifetime value of the relevant contracts is in the table at 2004-05 prices. This was the basis used in "The National Programme for IT in the NHS: Project Progress Report" (National Audit Office 16 May 2008).
	
		
			  Contract  £ million 
			 BT LSP (1)1,567.0 
			 South LSP (2)— 
			 CSC LSP 3,007.0 
			 Spine 889.0 
			 (1) Original value £1,021 million, but including an addition for work in the South now transferred by Contract Change Notice (CCN) to BT. (2) This contract, with Fujitsu, was terminated at the end of May 2008. The value of future planned expenditure on national programme systems and services in the South will be determined following a review of local national health service requirements, and subject to relevant business case approval. 
		
	
	Costs specific to the individual components of the NHS CRS supported by the spine are not separately identified within the spine contract. The value of LSP contracts, and entitlement to payment under the contracts, is structured around the provision and ongoing support to NHS organisations within the LSP area of the complete raft of systems and services that will meet the agreed requirements set out in the contracts. The contracts do not specify costs relating to individual systems and services.

Schizophrenia

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of psycho-educational therapies in the treatment of those diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Phil Hope: The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published updated clinical guidance on schizophrenia in March, which identifies no new robust evidence for the effectiveness of psychoeducation on any critical outcomes. NICE has not, therefore, recommended psychoeducation for treating schizophrenia.
	This guidance is available online from NICE at:
	www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG82/Guidance/pdf/English

Internet

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate he has made of the number of households which have access to  (a) the internet and  (b) digital television.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is as follows.
	 (a) There is narrowband internet available to all of the UK. The Universal Service Obligation means that a fixed line is available to every UK household. Total Internet take up is at 65 per cent. of UK households.
	 (b) At present, 80 per cent. of UK households have access to digital terrestrial television when switchover is complete it will be 98.5 per cent.
	Digital satellite coverage is 98 per cent. Virgin Media states that 49 per cent. of households in the UK were able to get cable services at the end of 2007.

VisitBritain

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much it cost to produce VisitBritain's framework review document.

Barbara Follett: VisitBritain have advised that the total cost of the British Tourism Framework Review was £350,316.85. Of this £187,126 was for primary, newly commissioned research for the benefit of the whole UK tourism industry and which is free and publicly available on the VisitBritain website.
	The remaining costs were for extensive national consultation meetings which took place throughout Britain; the dissemination, publishing and associated production costs of the final review and supporting reports; and for consultancy and project management.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for offences related to drunkenness there have been in each police force area in Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Alan Campbell: The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences of drunkenness in Wales, by police force area, from 2003 to 2007 (latest available) is given in table 1.
	A penalty notice for disorder (PND) may be given for certain offences of drunkenness. The number of persons issued with a PND for drunkenness in Wales, by police force area, from 2004 to 2007 (latest available) are given in table 2. The PND scheme was implemented in all 43 police force areas in England and Wales in 2004.
	Data relating to the number of persons found guilty for offences of drunkenness in Wales, and the number cautioned for these offences can also be found at Annex A and B.
	Data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  Table 1:  N umber of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences of drunkenness( 1)  in Wales, by police force area, 2003 - 07( 2,3) 
			  Police force area  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,240 1,220 1,100 1,068 1,092 
			 Gwent 1,340 1,410 1,330 1,379 1,425 
			 North Wales 1,834 1,706 1,498 1,516 1,473 
			 South Wales 3,554 3,778 3,633 2,996 2,667 
			 Total 7,968 8,114 7,561 6,959 6,657 
			  Offence class 140, 141, 803 (1) Includes offences under the: Licensing Act 1872 s.12; Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 ss. 1(4) and 1A(4), 2(2); Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 s.12; Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91; Licensing Act 1964 s.174; Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969 s.9(4); Town Police Clauses Act 1847 s.61; London Hackney Carriage Act 1843 s.28; Merchant Shipping Act 1995 s.101(1)(a)(b), (4) and (5); Licensing Act 1902 s.2; Similar provisions in Local Acts; Road Traffic Act ss.4(1)(2) s.5(1)(a)(b), s.6(4), s.7(6); Road Traffic Act 1988 s.7A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.56, Transport and Works Act 1992 s.31A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.52.  (2) These data are on the principal offence basis.  (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Evidence and Analysis Unit [IOS 222-09]. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2:  N umber of penalty notices for disorder issued for offences of drunkenness( 1)  in Wales, by police force area, from 2004 - 07( 2) 
			   Police force area  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 DA06 Dyfed-Powys 220 418 387 286 
			 DB05 Gwent 151 231 298 212 
			 DB07 North Wales 658 1,244 1,360 1,275 
			  South Wales 107 496 840 370 
			  Total 1,136 2,389 2,885 2,143 
			 (1) Data includes the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Being found drunk in a highway or other public place, whether a building or not, or on licensed premises—Licensing Act 1872, section 12; Being guilty while drunk of disorderly behaviour—Criminal Justice Act 1967, section 91; Consuming alcohol in a designated public place—Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, section 12.  (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  Office for Criminal Justice Reform - Evidence and Analysis Unit [IOS 222-09]. 
		
	
	
		
			  Annex A:  N umber of persons found guilty at all courts for offences of drunkenness( 1)  in Wales, by police force area, 2003 - 07( 2,3) 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,145 1,135 1,018 999 999 
			 Gwent 1,214 1,293 1,189 1,257 1,315 
			 North Wales 1,673 1,579 1,408 1,435 1,425 
			 South Wales 3,264 3,513 3,353 2,814 2,554 
			 Total 7,296 7,520 6,968 6,505 6,293 
			  Offence class 140, 141, 803(1) Includes offences under the: Licensing Act 1872 s.12; Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985ss.1(4)& 1A(4), 2(2); Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 s.12; Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91; Licensing Act 1964 s.174; Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969 s.9(4); Town Police Clauses Act 1847 s.61; London Hackney Carriage Act 1843 s.28; Merchant Shipping Act 1995 s. 101 (1 )(a)(b), (4) & (5); Licensing Act 1902 s.2; Similar provisions in Local Acts; Road Traffic Act ss.4(1)(2) s.5(1)(a)(b), s.6(4), s.7(6); Road Traffic Act 1988 s.7A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.56, Transport and Works Act 1992 S.31A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.52.  (2) These data are on the principal offence basis.  (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  Office for Criminal Justice Reform - Evidence & Analysis Unit [IOS 222-09]. 
		
	
	
		
			  Annex B:  N umber of persons cautioned for offences of drunkenness( 1)  in Wales, by police force area, 2003 - 07( 2,3,4) 
			  Police force area  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Dyfed-Powys 94 107 111 109 119 
			 Gwent 190 29 138 256 366 
			 North Wales 204 168 116 83 81 
			 South Wales 341 505 425 143 74 
			 Total 829 809 790 591 640 
			  Offence class 140, 141, 803(1) Includes offences under the: Licensing Act 1872 s. 12; Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985ss.1(4)& 1A(4), 2(2); Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 s.12; Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91; Licensing Act 1964s.174; Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969 s.9(4); Town Police Clauses Act 1847 s.61; London Hackney Carriage Act 1843 s.28; Merchant Shipping Act 1995 s.101(1)(a)(b), (4) & (5); Licensing Act 1902 s.2; Similar provisions in Local Acts; Road Traffic Act ss.4(1)(2) s.5(1)(a)(b), s.6(4), s.7(6); Road Traffic Act 1988 s.7A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.56, Transport and Works Act 1992 S.31A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.52.  (2) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence.  (3) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. These figures have been included in the totals.  (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Evidence and Analysis Unit [IOS 222-09].

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for offences related to drunkenness there have been in  (a) the London Borough of Bexley and  (b) Greater London in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Alan Campbell: The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences of drunkenness in Greater London, which includes the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas from 2003 to 2007 (latest available) is given in table 1.
	A Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) may be given for certain offences of drunkenness. The number of persons issued with a PND for drunkenness in the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas, from 2004 to 2007 (latest available) are given in table 2. The PND Scheme was implemented in all 43 police force areas in England and Wales in 2004.
	Data relating to the number of persons found guilty and cautioned for offences of drunkenness can be found in annex A and B.
	Information held centrally is not available at local authority area. Data have been given in the tables for the Metropolitan police force area which includes Greater London and in which the London borough of Bexley is located.
	Data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  Table 1:  N umber of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences of drunkenness( 1)  in Greater London, 2003 - 07( 2,3,4) 
			2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Offence class Number proceeded against 15,782 14,737 14,241 14,437 13,527 
			 140   
			 141   
			 803   
			 (1) Includes offences under the: Licensing Act 1872 s.12; Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 ss.1(4) and 1A(4), 2(2); Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 s.12; Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91; Licensing Act 1964 s.174; Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969 s.9(4); Town Police Clauses Act 1847 s.61; London Hackney Carriage Act 1843 s.28; Merchant Shipping Act 1995 s.101(1)(a)(b), (4) and (5); Licensing Act 1902 s.2; Similar provisions in Local Acts; Road Traffic Act ss.4(1)(2) s.5(1)(a)(b), s.6(4), s.7(6); Road Traffic Act 1988 s.7A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.56, Transport and Works Act 1992 s.31A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.52. (2) Includes the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas. (3) These data are on the principal offence basis. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Evidence and Analysis Unit 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2:  N umber of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued for offences of drunkenness( 1)  in Greater London, from 2004 - 07( 2,3) 
			2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 DA06 Number of PNDs issued 5,469 4,429 4,405 4,369 
			 DB05  
			 DB07  
			 (1) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Being found drunk in a highway or other public place, whether a building or not, or on licensed premises—Licensing Act 1872, section 12; Being guilty while drunk of disorderly behaviour—Criminal Justice Act 1967, section 91. Consuming alcohol in a designated public place—Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, section 12. (2) Includes the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Evidence and Analysis Unit 
		
	
	
		
			  Annex A:  N umber of persons found guilty at all courts for offences of drunkenness( 1)  in Greater London, 2003 - 07( 2,3,4) 
			2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Offence class Number found guilty 13,964 13,257 12,896 13,300 12,560 
			 140   
			 141   
			 803   
			 (1 )Includes offences under the: Licensing Act 1872 s.12; Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 ss.1(4) and 1A(4), 2(2); Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 s.12; Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91; Licensing Act 1964 s.174; Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969 s.9(4); Town Police Clauses Act 1847 s.61; London Hackney Carriage Act 1843 s.28; Merchant Shipping Act 1995 s.101(1)(a)(b), (4) and (5); Licensing Act 1902 s.2; Similar provisions in Local Acts; Road Traffic Act ss.4(1)(2) s.5(1)(a)(b), s.6(4), s.7(6); Road Traffic Act 1988 s.7A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.56, Transport and Works Act 1992 S.31A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.52. (2) Includes the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas. (3) These data are on the principal offence basis. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Evidence and Analysis Unit 
		
	
	
		
			  Annex B:  N umber of persons cautioned for offences of drunkenness( 1)  in Greater London, 2003 - 07( 2,3,4,5) 
			2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Offence class Number cautioned 915 545 335 389 533 
			 140   
			 141   
			 803   
			 (1) Includes offences under the: Licensing Act 1872 s.12; Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 ss.1(4) and 1A(4), 2(2); Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 s.12; Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91; Licensing Act 1964 s.174; Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969 s.9(4); Town Police Clauses Act 1847 s.61; London Hackney Carriage Act 1843 s.28; Merchant Shipping Act 1995s.101(1)(a)(b), (4) and (5); Licensing Act 1902 s.2; Similar provisions in Local Acts; Road Traffic Act ss.4(1)(2) s.5(1)(a)(b), s.6(4), s.7(6); Road Traffic Act 1988 s.7A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.56, Transport and Works Act 1992 S.31A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.52. (2) Includes the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas. (3) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. (4) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. (5) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Evidence and Analysis Unit

Animal Experiments: Licensing

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what species of animals have been used in the testing of household products under licences issued by her Department in the last five years; how many animals of each species have been so used; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 12 May 2009
	The number of adult animals used for the first time in scientific procedures on living animal started in Great Britain for toxicology or other safety/efficacy evaluation in relation to substances used in the household, in 2003-07 was:
	2007: one rabbit (1)
	2006: Nil (0)
	2005: 21 mice, 90 rats (111)
	2004: 95 mice, 65 rats, 20 guinea pigs, 12 rabbits, 80 'Any fish species' (272)
	2003: 98 mice, 83 rats, 41 guinea pigs, 12 rabbits, (234).
	The available information is published in Table 9a (previously 10a) in the Department's annual publication Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain, copies of which are available from the Library of the House and from the Department's website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/scientific1.html
	Information relating to procedures started in 2008 is planned to be published in July 2009.
	The justification for the testing of household products or their ingredients is the need for regulatory authorities to have sufficient information to assess the risks to which humans, animals, plants or the environment are exposed (and their efficacy if relevant), as required by national and international legislations, when these products or their ingredients are produced, transported or used.
	Animal tests are authorised when the purpose of the test cannot be achieved by any other reasonably practicable method not entailing the use of protected animals. Account will be taken of physico-chemical properties of the test substance, computer modelling and structure-activity relationships, and results of in-vitro screening if appropriate which will inform the need and type of animal test needed.

Asylum

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are awaiting decisions as part of the legacy process; and how long on average those people have been waiting for a decision.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 11 May 2009
	As of 9 January the UK Border Agency had concluded 155,500 older asylum cases. The previous Home Secretary informed Parliament in July 2006 of
	"the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's case load of around 400,000 to 450,000 electronic and paper records".
	These include duplicate cases, cases of individuals who have since died or left the country, or are now EU citizens therefore it is not possible to provide an accurate assessment of how many cases are awaiting decisions. The chief executive of the UK Border Agency will update the Home Affairs Select Committee on case conclusion progress in the summer.
	To obtain the information requested about average waiting times of legacy cases would involve a detailed examination of individual case records which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Crime: Motor Vehicles

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to tackle car cloning in London.

Alan Campbell: The Metropolitan police service has a well established and successful Stolen Vehicle Unit, and they have had considerable success working with other partners to tackle vehicle crime, including cloning, in London.
	The Home Office is also committed to supporting the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS), which has a national role in tackling vehicle crime, including sharing Intelligence with forces. It works closely with regionally based police colleagues, including the Metropolitan police, in relation to vehicle crime.
	The efforts that we have made in partnership with police and colleagues in the vehicle insurance, vehicle manufacturing and other areas has proved successful.
	From 1997 to 2007-08 we have seen a reduction of 66 per cent. in vehicle crime.

Crime: Motor Vehicles

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to reduce the level of vehicle crime in Coventry in the last 12 months.

Alan Campbell: The Government are committed to ensuring that the response to motor vehicle crime is as effective as possible.
	The Home Office is committed to supporting the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS), based at Ryton on Dunsmore, which has a national role in tackling vehicle crime, including sharing intelligence with forces. It works closely with regionally-based police colleagues in all 43 forces in England and Wales and has strong relationships with other key partners including the Serious Organised Crime Agency, HM Revenue and Customs, as well as partners in the private sector, in relation to vehicle crime.
	There are also local initiatives in Coventry to tackle vehicle crime such as: vehicle decoy operations targeted in crime hot spots; a campaign to target the theft of satellite navigation systems, including covert sting operations and publicity; police community support officers checking vehicles with property left on show and providing advice to shoppers and those working in the city centre; advice to businesses on increasing security on their premises (e.g. CCTV and additional patrols); vouchers for vehicle crook locks distributed to the owners of older vehicles which do not benefit from security within their design; and offender management schemes that target known prolific offenders.
	The efforts that we have made in partnership with police and colleagues in the vehicle insurance, vehicle manufacturing and other areas, has proved successful. From 1997 to 2007-08 we have seen a reduction of 66 per cent. in vehicle crime.

Crime: Statistics

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data on crime at lower layer super output area level her Department collects.

Alan Campbell: The Home Office's British crime survey (BCS) is a representative survey of households resident in England and Wales designed to collect information on crimes experienced in the last year. The BCS is an address-based sample but information collected is not reported below police force area level as the sample is too small to provide reliable estimates at lower geographical levels.
	To protect the confidentiality of respondents personal details, such as address and postcode, are not supplied to the Home Office by the survey contractor.
	The Home Office also collects information on crimes recorded by the police.
	Experimental statistics based on a special collection from some police forces has been published at middle super output area level. The most recent data currently published are for 2005-06 and can be found on the Neighbourhood Statistics website at:
	http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk
	In future, the Home Office data hub will receive individual crime records from police forces in England and Wales. The system is currently being tested and test data extracts have been received from 28 forces. It is planned the system will be fully operational by the end of the financial year 2010-11. Assessments of the quality of this data will need to be made but the current intention is to publish data at middle super output area level where possible, subject to quality issues and adherence to protocols for official statistics.

Crimes of Violence: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to reduce the level of violent crime in Coventry in the last 12 months.

Alan Campbell: The Government nationally have been over the last 12 months implementing a wide ranging programme as set out in the Tackling Violence Action Plan published in February 2008. We are reviewing and refreshing that plan particularly to focus on the key priorities of serious youth violence and violence against women.
	Examples of steps taken in Coventry include:
	Coventry was allocated £335,669 basic command unit funding for 2008-09 which is to help deliver crime and disorder reduction locally, promote partnership working, and to assist in the delivery of the objectives set out in the Government's Public Service Agreements for 2008 to 2011.
	Coventry Community Safety Partnership received funding of £81,540 to support a tackling violent crime programme designed to reduce violent crime, fear of crime and increase public confidence. A range of tactical interventions were deployed over the Christmas 2008 period, which achieved a 4.9 per cent. reduction in overall crime, against an anticipated 2 per cent. reduction target.
	Coventry has been designated as an alcohol priority area and is receiving funding from the Home Office for enforcement and a communications campaign.
	Work is also ongoing to strengthen Coventry's multi-agency approach to licensing enforcement.
	Coventry's health services produce fortnightly data which is then sent to the police and other partners through the partnerships' Active Intelligence Mapping arrangements, which enables regular and appropriate deployment of operational resources.
	Funding has been provided to assist with the expansion and development of the Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, set up to provide services to women (and their children) who have suffered from rape and sexual abuse.

Departmental Dismissal

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff in her Department and its agencies were dismissed  (a) for under-performance and  (b) in total in each of the last 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: The number of staff dismissed  (a) for under-performance and  (b) in total each year within Home Office HQ, the Identity and Passport Service and the Criminal Records Bureau is shown in table 1.
	
		
			  Table 1: Dismissals in Home Office HQ, IPS and CRB( 1) 
			  Year( 2)  Dismissals for under-performance  Total dismissals 
			 1999-2000 0 Less than five 
			 2000-01 0 14 
			 2001-02 0 34 
			 2002-03 0 37 
			 2003-04 0 29 
			 2004-05 0 29 
			 2005-06 Less than five 41 
			 2006-07 0 38 
			 2007-08 Less than five 45 
			 2008-09 Less than five 49 
			 (1) The Criminal Records Bureau did not begin operations until March 2002. (2 )Information prior to 2005-06 is not held centrally within Home Office HQ and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.  Note: Where fewer than five members of staff were dismissed further information has been withheld on grounds of confidentiality. 
		
	
	The number of staff dismissed within the UK Border Agency for  (a) inefficiency and  (b) in total each year is shown in table 2
	
		
			  Table 2: Dismissals in UKBA( 1) 
			  Year( 2)  Dismissals for inefficiency( 3)  Total dismissals 
			 2005-06 37 69 
			 2006-07 28 68 
			 2007-08 50 100 
			 2008-09 47 93 
			 (1 )Figures exclude staff within UKVisas (previously FCO) and HMRC detection staff who have now transferred to UKBA. (2 )Information prior to 2005-06 is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. (3 )Dismissals made under the broad category of inefficiency include dismissals made under poor performance and attendance management procedure; 
		
	
	UKBA figures contained in the first column of table 2 include all staff dismissed under the broad category of inefficiency, which includes dismissal for under-performance and dismissal under attendance management procedures. A further breakdown of those dismissals into those dismissed for under-performance could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
	UKBA figures exclude staff in UK Visas (previously under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) and HM Revenue & Customs Detection staff who have now transferred to UKBA. These staff will be added to UKBA HR systems during 2009-10 as part of an ongoing improvement programme.

Drugs: Misuse

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of research commissioned by her Department on the individual and social effects of the use of khat in the UK.

Alan Campbell: In March 2005, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) was asked by the Home Office to assess the extent of the harm posed by khat use in the UK based on the evidence available at that time. The ACMD recommended khat not be controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act but they continue to monitor the situation in relation to khat through their technical committee.
	The Government's 2008 Drug Strategy Action Plan set out the intention to consider further the social harms created by khat use and to improve our understanding of the needs of khat users and their families.
	In light of the commitments, the Home Office has commissioned a research project to examine the social harms associated with khat use and to explore the level and availability of treatment service provision for khat users and their families and will be considering the issue of classification.

Identity Cards: Airports

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the union Prospect on the decision to introduce compulsory identity cards for airside workers in the aviation sector.

Phil Woolas: My hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Meg Hillier) met with union representatives, led by the TUC and including Prospect, to discuss identity cards for airside workers on 10 September 2008.

Immigration

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to expedite the determination of immigration decisions.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 20 March 2009
	The UK Border Agency is committed to delivering an efficient service for all customers and claimants.
	In terms of economic and family migration, the principle means by which the UK Border Agency is working to speed up the determination of immigration decisions is through the introduction of the points based system for all those applying to work or study in the UK.
	The tiers relating to highly skilled migrants, skilled migrants and temporary workers are already operational, having been introduced in 2008. Tier 4, which applies to students, was introduced on 31 March 2009.
	In other economic and family migration categories there are performance improvement plans in place to speed up case processing times.
	For asylum cases, the UK Border agency has published the milestones for the conclusion of cases it intends to fulfil on route to the ultimate objective of concluding 90 per cent. of cases within six months by December 2011. Most recently, UKBA successfully achieved the milestone of concluding 60 per cent. of cases in six months by the end of December 2008.

Immigration Controls

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to develop joint threat assessment mechanisms between police forces and the UK Border Agency to underpin operational work at the UK border; and what timetable has been established for the work.

Jacqui Smith: Following on from the memorandum of understanding which was signed in 2008, the UK Border Agency and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) are continuing to work closely together to enhance their relationship at the UK Border. UKBA have senior officials in place at ports of entry to facilitate liaison with the police and other agencies. This collaboration is designed to increase opportunities for working together, including the capacity for joint threat assessments.

Immigration Controls

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sponsors for Tier 2 of the points-based immigration system are classified as  (a) category A and  (b) category B.

Phil Woolas: There are 9,168 registered Tier 2 sponsors of which, 8,841 are rated as category A and 327 as category B.

Licensed Premises: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) public houses,  (b) night clubs and  (c) other licensed premises in each police force area in Wales have been issued with (i) a written warning, (ii) a penalty notice and (iii) a temporary or permanent closure notice as a result of drunken behaviour in or around the licensed premises under the powers of the Licensing Act 2003, in each year since the Act came into force.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 23 April 2009
	The Home Office does not collect data centrally on any of the issues raised.
	Penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) can only be issued to individuals for 24 specific offences. Information collected centrally records the offence but is not broken down further to provide details of location etc. PNDs cannot be issued to 'other' defendants which would include companies and public bodies.
	Data on the number of closure notices issued are collected by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport who have provided the following. Tables. These cannot be broken down by premise type.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of completed reviews following a premises licences closure order—Welsh licensing authorities 
			   Premises licence (following closure orders under s.161 of Act) 
			   April 2006 to  March 2007  April 2007 to  March 2008 
			 Blaenau Gwent 0 0 
			 Bridgend 0 0 
			 Caerphilly 1 0 
			 Cardiff 0 0 
			 Carmarthenshire 0 0 
			 Ceredigion 0 0 
			 Conwy 0 0 
			 Denbighshire 0 0 
			 Flintshire 0 1 
			 Gwynedd n/a 0 
			 Isle of Anglesey 0 1 
			 Merthyr Tydfil 0 0 
			 Monmouthshire 0 0 
			 Neath Port Talbot 0 0 
			 Newport n/a 0 
			 Pembrokeshire 0 0 
			 Powys 0 0 
			 Rhondda Cynon Taff n/a 0 
			 Swansea 0 0 
			 Torfaen 0 0 
			 Vale of Glamorgan 0 0 
			 Wrexham 0 0 
			 Wales total 1 2 
			  Notes: 1. Does not include closure orders where a review did not take place. 2. This power did not come into force until May 2007. 3. Statistics on Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment licensing have been collected on an annual basis since 2006-07. This collection does not identify the number of public houses in England and Wales, but rather the number of premises authorising the sale or supply of alcohol by means of a premises licence or a club premises certificate. The figures therefore include licensed premises such as hotels, off licences and convenience stores as well as public houses. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of premises licences closure notice, where a premises is prohibited from selling alcohol for 48 hours following a closure notice under S.169A for persistent sales of alcohol to children—Welsh licensing authorities 
			   Closure notice (premises licence) under s.169A of Act 
			   April 2006 to  March 2007( 1)  April 2007 to  March 2008 
			 Blaenau Gwent n/a 0 
			 Bridgend n/a 0 
			 Caerphilly n/a 0 
			 Cardiff n/a 0 
			 Carmarthenshire n/a 0 
			 Ceredigion n/a 0 
			 Conwy n/a 0 
			 Denbighshire n/a 0 
			 Flintshire n/a 0 
			 Gwynedd n/a n/a 
			 Isle of Anglesey n/a 0 
			 Merthyr Tydfil n/a 0 
			 Monmouthshire n/a 0 
			 Neath Port Talbot n/a 0 
			 Newport n/a 0 
			 Pembrokeshire n/a 0 
			 Powys n/a 0 
			 Rhondda Cynon Taff n/a 0 
			 Swansea n/a 0 
			 Torfaen n/a 0 
			 Vale of Glamorgan n/a 0 
			 Wrexham n/a 0 
			 Wales total n/a 0 
			 (1) This information was not collected for 2006-07.  Note: Statistics on Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment licensing have been collected on an annual basis since 2006-07. This collection does not identify the number of public houses in England and Wales, but rather the number of premises authorising the sale or supply of alcohol by means of a premises licence or a club premises certificate. The figures therefore include licensed premises such as hotels, off licences and convenience stores as well as public houses.

Members: Correspondence

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a reply will be sent to the right hon. Member for Rotherham's letter of 5 October 2008 addressed to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in respect of Mr Charles Spencer and a visa request for a Ukrainian national, Ms Natalia Dvokriadkina.

Phil Woolas: My colleague, Meg Hillier, replied to the right hon. Member on 13 March 2009.

Personal Records: Data Protection

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) records and  (b) data fields there are in (i) the Police National Computer, (ii) the Impact Nominal Index, (iii) the Police National Database, (iv) the National DNA Database, (v) the National Fingerprint Database, (vi) the National ANPR Data Centre and (vii) the UK Border Agency's e-borders programme.

Alan Campbell: The information is as follows:
	 (i) Police National Computer (PNC)
	The Police National Computer (PNC) is a critical national service which the Police Service and many others in the Criminal Justice System rely on in order to perform their jobs effectively and safely.
	The PNC contains records from a number of separate information databases. The information records stored on the PNC are as follows:
	Vehicles—these records are made up of the key data items held by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) that describe the vehicle and its registered keeper. This information, supplemented by any police reports relating to vehicles of interest to the police, is primarily used for roads policing purposes.
	Drivers Licences—these records are made up of the key data items from DVLA and record driver entitlement. Their use is confined to roads policing. The system was constructed to enable enquiries to be carried out efficiently and save members of the public from having to present their documents at police stations, reducing inconvenience and saving police time.
	Property—these records are constructed by the police and describe stolen, lost and found items of property that are uniquely identifiable by a (serial) number.
	Crimelink—these records are constructed by the police and relate to serious unsolved crimes, where the perpetrator has yet to be identified.
	National Firearms Certificate Holders—these are records pertaining to the management of firearm licences. They hold details of members of the public who legally own firearms, renew firearms licences, have been refused a licence or had one revoked. The Dunblane tragedy was a key driver for developing the system.
	Names—these records are created when individuals are arrested. They record any charges and the subsequent disposal. All recordable convictions are held on the PNC. In England and Wales, records are retained in accordance with ACPO's Criminal Records Office PNC Data Retention Guidelines (publicly available via the ACRO website). In essence all records are retained until the individual is 100 years of age. Records from Scotland are retained in accordance with their legislation and records on the PNC are deleted in the same timeframe as that of Scotland's Criminal History System (CHS).
	The table shows the number of records held on the PNC, broken down by the various information databases, as at 13 November 2008. These figures are not mutually exclusive; for example, the same record may be included in more than one database.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Vehicles 58,161,658 
			 Names 9,172,689 
			 Drivers Licences 51,901,851 
			 Property 97,978 
			 Crimelink 621 
			 National Firearms Certificate Holders Register (NFCHR) 1,390,920 
		
	
	The current number of data fields available for each type of record is as stated in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Vehicles 33 
			 Names 253 
			 Drivers Licences 58 
			 Stolen property 22 
			 Crimelink 19 
			 National Firearms Certificate Holders Register 253 
		
	
	While this illustrates the data fields available they will not all be completed for every record.
	Where fields are sub-divided, for example a post code may be entered in two parts, or where multiple entries can occur, for example up to 999 addresses may be entered on a person's record, this has been counted as one data field.
	 (ii) Impact Nominal Index (INI)
	The INI is a system used by all police forces in the United Kingdom and other joint operating authorities such as the Serious Organised Crime Agency and Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre. It provides summary level information of people who have passed through one of six business areas of the police forces. These business areas are: crime, custody, child protection, domestic violence, firearms licensing (revoked and refused) and intelligence.
	The system is part of the response to Sir Michael Bichard's inquiry into the Soham murders, seeking to provide a national information sharing capability to prevent criminals escaping detection simply by crossing force boundaries.
	As at 19 March 2009 there were 69,246,299 records on the INI.
	Each INI record contains 15 data fields, which include eight fields for the basic nominal data such as surname, forenames, PNC ID, date of birth, age and gender.
	The remaining fields contain reference information pertaining to the origin of the data such as the details of the police force/organisation, reference ID, business area and number of records held.
	 (iii) Police National Database (PND)
	The PND has not yet been built and therefore does not contain any records or data fields.
	 (iv) National DNA Database
	The National DNA Database (NDNAD) plays a key role in catching criminals, eliminating the innocent from investigations and focusing the direction of inquiries. It is also one of the few long-term investigation tools, sometimes identifying criminals many years after they believe they have escaped detection. The purpose of the NDNAD is to match DNA profiles left at crime scenes with DNA profiles from known subjects and thereby provide the police with a lead for further investigation.
	As at 30 March 2009 there were 5,614,411 subject profile records retained on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) from all police forces, relating to approximately 4,856,466 individuals. Of these, 5,258,779 were from English and Welsh police forces, relating to approximately 4,548,844 individuals. In addition, as at 31 December 2008 there were 343,657 crime scene profiles retained on the NDNAD, of which 329,482 were from English and Welsh police forces.
	The reason why the number of subject profile records is not the same as the number of individuals is that it is possible for a profile to be loaded onto the NDNAD on more than one occasion; that is, some profiles held on the NDNAD are replicates. This can occur, for example, if the person provided different names or different versions of their name on separate arrests, or because profiles are upgraded.
	All NDNAD records have the same structure consisting of 36 data fields. However, some of these fields are only relevant to subject profiles, and some are only relevant to crime scene profiles. Therefore, no record will have all data fields completed.
	 (v) National Fingerprint Database (IDENT.1)
	IDENT1, the national fingerprint database, is central to police investigation, crime detection and public safety. It gives the ability to establish the identity of arrestees and link a presence at a crime scene with a verified identity quickly and, where necessary, to a forensic standard.
	As at the end of February 2009, the IDENT1 (National Fingerprint Database) Unified Collection of Print Sets contained the verified identities of 7.8 million individuals, with which were associated 16.9 million sets of ten-prints and 6.7 million palm prints. The Unified Collection of Unresolved Crime Scene Marks contained 1.78 million finger marks and 115,000 palm marks. There were also 4,600 marks in the Serious Crime Collection.
	In addition to the fields representing the biometric data above, there are five fields relating to the biographic data associated with each person: first name, surname, date of birth, gender and appearance.
	 (vi) National ANPR Data Centre (NADC)
	Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology allows vehicle registration marks to be "read" by cameras and for the details to be compared against identified database records.
	ANPR data itself involves a number of different components. These are:
	The overview image, which shows a picture of those parts of vehicle captured by camera while photographing the number plate.
	The plate patch, which extracts and isolates the picture of the number plate from the overview image.
	The ANPR interpretation (Read) which shows how the ANPR programme has read the number plate.
	Hotlists, which are lists of vehicles of interest to the police.
	ANPR matches (hits) which show when an ANPR read has matched something on a hotlist.
	Time, date and location stamp, which show when and where the data was obtained (the entire national system is time/date synchronised).
	The NADC provides a national store for the ANPR data captured by police forces.
	The NADC does not itself contain personal data. However, it does contain data which, when combined with other data sources (e.g. vehicle keeper records), could identify an individual. Access to the NADC is only permitted for major and serious investigations and requires authorisation in each case by a senior officer. The level of authority required to access ANPR data increases over time.
	It is estimated that there are currently 1.3 billion records held on the system.
	For each number plate read recorded, nine fields are populated. For each number plate read that matches a "hotlist" (for example a list of uninsured vehicles), 11 fields are populated, six fields are used to record details of cameras, four fields are used to record audit information.
	 (vii) UK Border Agency's e-borders programme
	The Semaphore Legacy system of e-Borders currently contains over 82 million records.
	The e-Borders system will capture data on passengers and crew arriving in and departing from the UK. This data is API (Advance Passenger Information) and OPI (Other Passenger Information). API will be captured on all those travelling to and from the UK and will comprise up to eight data fields. OPI will be provided by carriers on selected routes only. This will be a data record corresponding to their passenger reservation information. Carriers will only be required to provide this to the extent that it is known, the number of data fields in these records will therefore vary and none are mandatory.

United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overseas visits UK Human Trafficking Centre staff have undertaken in each of the last three years; what the destination was of each such visit; and what the total cost of such visits was.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 30 April 2009
	Figures for the past three years are not available .
	However, since 18 March 2008 UKHTC staff have undertaken 45 trips abroad that have incurred a total expense of £23,760.67.
	These trips have been predominantly to European destinations, with other trips to the USA, Saudi Arabia. The purpose of these visits has been to take forward work to progress co-operation on human trafficking with our European and international partners.
	This has included operational matters, joint training with the International Organisation of Migration and the Irish police, the launch of the Irish Blue Blindfold campaign and the signature of an intelligence sharing MoU with the US Human Smuggling and Trafficking Centre.

Vetting

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place for payment of compensation to those who lose  (a) their post and  (b) an opportunity to take up a new post owing to the length of time taken to complete a Criminal Records Bureau check.

Vernon Coaker: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) does not pay compensation, the payments CRB makes are on an ex gratia basis, as an award to reinforce the sincerity of an apology.
	The CRB is bound by the Treasury Guidelines and must endeavour to put all individuals back into the position they would have been but for any maladministration on the part of the Bureau. This scheme is called a Redress Scheme. The CRB award redress if they have not followed their procedures and it has caused the applicant a loss.

Victim Support Schemes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent work her Department has undertaken with local authorities in the provision of victim support services.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 6 May 2009
	Support for victims is primarily the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice although the Home Office continues to support some specialist services particularly for victims of violent crime.
	For example, the Home Office has funded 28 Sexual Assault Referral Centres to provide support to victims of sexual violence and are supporting the national rollout of independent domestic violence advisers, and independent sexual violence advisers, ensuring that this support is available to all victims of these crimes.
	The Ministry of Justice is working directly with local authorities to help them improve their response to human trafficking, strengthening the identification and support of victims.

Young People

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanisms her Department used to select its national pool of youth advisers; and what criteria were used in the selection process.

Sadiq Khan: The Secretary of State's panel of youth advisers were selected from a national pool of young advisers through an application process undertaken jointly with the Young Advisors Charity. Applicants were also asked to provide personal statements as part of the application process.
	Applications were assessed against a range of competences including communication, interaction, leadership and managing.

Adult Education

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 8 May 2009,  Official Report, column 474W, on adult education, whether his Department has made any estimate of the number of new adult learning places to be created by implementation of the proposals in the Learning Revolution White Paper.

Si�n Simon: We are confident that the range of initiatives announced in The Learning Revolution White Paper will both increase the number of learning opportunities and help people access the many and varied kinds of learning that are already available. Adults want to learn in different waysthrough structured classes and through libraries, museums, self-organised groups, membership organisations and online.
	Our goal is that all adults are able to access a wide range of informal learning opportunities and that learning experiences are better joined-up so that people can pursue their interests. The Learning Revolution sets out proposals that will help achieve this goal, including increasing the availability of free and low cost spaces for learning, launching a 20 million Transformation Fund to reach out to new and different learners through partnership and innovation, setting up a support package for local learning champions and harnessing the potential of broadcasting and technology to support and enhance learning.

Apprentices

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what events were  (a) held and  (b) visited by Ministers in his Department during Apprenticeship Week in February; and if he will post on his Department's website a copy of the report on apprenticeships commissioned by his Department from Populus.

Si�n Simon: During Apprenticeships Week there were events across the length and breadth of the country, across sectors and industries, employers and providers, Sector Skills Councils and Learning and Skills Council (LSC) regions. The activity generated over 600 pieces of national, regional and trade coverage that conveyed the diversity and strength of apprenticeships.
	The week received full cross party support from MPs and Ministers. Some examples of these events are:
	Gordon Brown visiting Ipswich to launch the Federated Apprenticeship Scheme,
	MPs across the country including Lord Young, Gillian Merron, Tom Levitt, Mark Todd, Gordon Marsden, David Evennett, Douglas Hogg, Maria Eagle, Angela Eagle, Malcolm Wicks, Joan Ryan, Bill Etherington and Joe Benton, Phil Willis, Richard Caborn, George Howarth, Natascha Engle and Hugo Swire went back to the floor to learn from the brightest and the best apprentices in a range of industry sectors.
	Regions and stakeholders up and down the country ran events aimed at encouraging employers to take on more apprentices. These were supported by a large bank of spokespeople, local authorities, national employers and celebrities. There are too many to list but some examples are:
	The LSC East Midlands had an Apprenticeships stand at a Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce Showcase event in Derby.
	There was an employer lunch hosted by Luton Borough Council, a joint employer event with the London LSC and City  Guilds.
	An employer seminar was held at the North East Business Fair on Recruitment and Retention showcasing the benefits of taking on apprentices.
	A business breakfast took place at Bentley Motors in Crewe.
	The North West Apprenticeship Summit took place in Cumbria.
	Two business breakfasts were held in the South East in Slough and Crawley.
	Private and public employer business breakfasts took place in Wellington, Devon, Bristol and Somerset.
	There was a public sector event in the West Midlands.
	There was an event for retail employers hosted by Skillsmart Retail with guest speaker Theo Paphitis.
	An Apprentice Summit hosted by Cogent, employer workshops and events hosted by Construction Skills, Creative  Cultural Skills, Habia, Improve, Lantra, Lifelong Learning UK, Management and Standards Centre, MetSkill, People 1st, Skills for Justice, Skills for Security and SkillsActive.
	Colleges were also heavily involved with both independent events and activities such as Exeter College in the South West organised a parade of 50 Performing Arts Students through the town to raise awareness of apprenticeships.
	 Secretary of State John Denham attended two events during the week.
	1. He co-hosted an employer seminar with Secretary of State Ed Balls and Sir Alan Sugar which was attended by over 350 employers. It offered employers an opportunity to question the Ministers and Sir Alan about the value of apprenticeships.
	2. Secretary of State also visited Southampton Football Club where he met an Apprentice Footballer who has been nominated for the Football Association's Apprentice of the Year Awards.
	 Lord Young also took an active role in the events of the week:
	1. He gave 20 interviews to promote the business case research findings including Radio 5 Live, Radio 5 Wake up to Money, BBC Radio 2 as well as numerous regional stations.
	2. He participated in a webchat with Simon Waugh, Chief Executive of the National Apprenticeships Service and Dave Walsh from British Telecom. It was aired on 14 websites including The Guardian and Personnel Today.
	3. Lord Young also went back to the floor, returning to British Telecom where he began his career as an apprentice.
	 David Lammy MP also participated in the week:
	1. He was accompanied by an apprentice from Government Skills for the day. The Apprentice, John, got an insight into the day in the life of a Minister through attending meetings and witnessing the Minister being interviewed at Millbank.
	 Sion Simon MP visited the opening of Sutton Coldfield/Matthew Boulton Learning Resource Centre during which he met a group of Apprentices at the business centre.
	The Populus research referred to was not commissioned by the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills, but by a PR agency on behalf of the Learning and Skills Council. The research was published on 24 February in conjunction with a press notice released to support the activity during Apprenticeships Week. It is available on the National Apprenticeship Service website.

Building Colleges for the Future Programme: Leeds

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will take steps to ensure that the building programme for Leeds City College Keighley campus is completed on schedule; and if he will make a statement.

Si�n Simon: Capital funding for Further Education colleges is administered by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). As the information requested is with regard to an operational matter for the Council, I have asked Geoffrey Russell, the acting LSC chief executive, to write to the hon. Member with the further information requested. A copy of his letter will be placed in the House Libraries.

Further Education

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the change in functions of the Learning and Skills Council on the role of specialist independent post-16 colleges;
	(2)  what guidance he has given to local authorities on support for the functions of specialist independent post-16 colleges; and if he will direct local authorities to guarantee funding streams for such colleges.

Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
	Independent specialist providers of post-16 education and training play an important role in providing education for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities, often with very specific needs and requirements. We recognise the value of having a diverse mix of high quality providers that ensures that our young people are able to access the right course or provision to help them realise their goals and ambitions. We do not feel it is appropriate to centrally guarantee funding streams for particular institutions. Local authorities will need to work in partnership with each other, providers and young people and their families to assess the level of demand in their area and to commission suitable provision that meets young people's needs.
	Provision has been made in clause 40 of the ASCL Bill to require local authorities, when commissioning provision, to take account of the quality of provision being secured and encourage diversity in the range of education and training on offer to support learner choice. In addition, in deciding whether education and training is suitable to meet young people's reasonable needs, local authorities will be required to have regard to any learning difficulties the persons may have.
	We believe that the transfer to local authorities will have significant benefits in terms of a more informed and integrated commissioning of their services leading to better outcomes for learners. Arrangements are being developed, in consultation with stakeholders, that recognise that independent specialist colleges will often work across local authority boundaries and nationally, and consideration is being given to the need to minimise bureaucracy for these and other learning providers. These arrangements will feed into the statutory guidance being developed for local authorities in respect of their commissioning responsibilities which the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) will publish when it comes into being in April 2010, subject to the passage of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning (ASCL) Bill.
	We do not expect the YPLA to be involved in the commissioning of learning provision in the vast majority of cases, although there may be some circumstances where it may need to commission provision directly, for instance:
	where a local authority is failing or looks likely to fail in fulfilling its duties under clauses 40 and 47 of the Bill to commission suitable education or training;
	with a small number of national providers for whom it may be appropriate to commission at a national rather than local level; and
	where the sub regional group (SRG) identifies that they are not yet ready to take on the role.
	In those cases, the YPLA will need to engage those providers, including specialist colleges, to ensure that they are commissioned effectively in response to the needs of young people.

Higher Education: Admissions

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what recent research his Department has commissioned on the aspirations of children in secondary school to go on to higher education;
	(2)  what proportion of people leaving school whose parents are in socio-economic groups D and E entered higher education in the last year for which information is available.

David Lammy: DIUS recently commissioned research as part of the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (Next Steps) and the Youth Cohort Study. This covers over 11,000 16 and 17-year-olds, many of whom are at school and college, and includes questions about their attitudes towards higher education including views of its costs and benefits, intentions regarding applying for places, and awareness of financial aspects, subject preferences and other aspects of higher education. We expect that the report will be published in late June 2009.
	Information held on higher education students shows whether they are from socio- economic classes 1-7.
	In 2006/07, the proportion of 18 to 20-year-olds from the top three socio-economic classes who participated for the first time in full-time higher education was provisionally 39.5 per cent. The proportion from the bottom four socio-economic classes was provisionally 19.0 per cent.
	These figures cover English-domiciled 18 to 20-year-olds who are studying for the first time at higher education level at UK higher education institutions or English further education colleges, who remain on their courses for at least six months. Further information is available on the DIUS website:
	http://www.dius.gov.uk/~/media/publications/F/FYPSEC%20paper%202008
	The provisional 2007/08 figures will become available later this year, along with final 2006/07 figures.
	This Government are fully committed to ensuring every young person has a fair chance of attending university. We are making progress with the proportion of young entrants from lower socio economic groups going to university increasing steadily, reaching almost 30 per cent. in 2007.

Research: Cancer

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much the Medical Research Council spent on research into  (a) leukaemia,  (b) brain cancer,  (c) lung cancer,  (d) colo-rectal cancer,  (e) breast cancer and  (f) prostate cancer in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08.

David Lammy: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government supports medical and clinical research. The MRC is currently funding a large portfolio of site-specific and general underpinning cancer research. In 2007/08, the MRC's expenditure on cancer research amounted to 89.5 million.
	The MRC's expenditure on research related to leukaemia, brain cancer, lung cancer, colo-rectal cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer in 2005/06 to 2007/08 is as follows:
	
		
			   
			  Area  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08 
			 Leukaemia 13.8 million 13.3 million 14.0 million 
			 Brain cancers 900,000 940,000 970,000 
			 Lung cancer 1.6 million 2.1 million 2.0 million 
			 Colo-rectal cancer 9.2 million 9.2 million 11.4 million 
			 Breast cancer 5.9 million 5.7 million 6.3 million 
			 Prostate cancer 6.2 million 5.1 million 5.8 million

Trade Marks: EU Law

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the effect of Council Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 on the Community trade mark, on UK trade mark institutions; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Council Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 on the Community Trade Mark makes no changes that have legal effect. Instead it renumbers the regulation on trade marks, and brings into one place the amendments previously made to it. This codification therefore makes it easier for the regulation to be read. We have been told that the codification will necessitate the rewriting of some legal texts and guidance referring to the previous version of the regulation.

Arctic

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of recent statements by the Russian government on the potential for future conflict over resources in the Arctic; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Russian Security Council published its Arctic strategy, the 'Foundations of Russia's Arctic Policy until 2020 and beyond', on 23 March 2009. It is important to note that the Russian strategy is not just about militarisation. It also includes plans for social and economic development, ecological security, science and technology and international cooperation. With climate change making the region increasingly accessible we support continuing dialogue on this issue between Russia, US, Canada, Denmark and Norway, through the Arctic Council and other international institutions and within international law, most significantly the UN convention on the law of the sea, which provides the framework for the delineation of the Arctic continental shelf.

Bermuda: Solar Power

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2009,  Official Report, column 560W, on British Overseas Territories: electricity generation, what assessment he has made of the outcome of Bermuda's trialling of solar power stations; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: We understand from the Government of Bermuda that trials of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to provide power for homes have produced favourable results. Trials have not begun for commercial buildings; although suitable government buildings have been identified for them. Discussions are under way to allocate land for a small solar PV power station, which will be preceded by a commercial trial.
	In order to encourage solar power adoption, customs duty has been waived on solar PV systems and the Bermuda government is introducing a rebate programme with a cash back scheme for customers who install and operate them, and making the approval process easier and faster.

British Overseas Territories: Borders

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department has provided to the UK Overseas Territories in respect of border  (a) patrol and  (b) enforcement in the last 12 months.

Gillian Merron: In the last 12 months the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has provided funding through its Overseas Territories Programme Fund to the UK Overseas Territories (OTs) towards the costs of the following projects linked to border patrol and enforcement:
	An aviation/maritime security supervisor's workshop to provide management training and threat/technical updates to supervisors of international sea-port and airport check point operations
	A Caribbean Regional Maritime Training Co-ordinator whose remit covers interdiction and border management training
	A multi agency threat and risk assessment programme to identify and mitigate risks from criminal activity and terrorism in the OTs. The programme led to the creation of a committee and subsequently a risk register for each Caribbean OT, together with action plans to reduce areas of significant risk that include sea and airports
	A Chief Immigration Officers Regional Conference to educate and foster close working relationships, improve and enhance information and intelligence exchange between the Overseas Territories Chief Immigration Officers and regional partners
	The Overseas Territories Regional Criminal Intelligence System (OTRCIS); a networked computer system that provides the police, customs and immigration departments of the UK's Caribbean OTs with a crime intelligence and information analysis secure data system.
	In addition, the Overseas Territories Programme Fund supports an Overseas Territories Law Enforcement Adviser and Regional Prison Reform Co-ordinator based in Miami and Southern Ocean Police and Prison Advisers.
	The FCO did not assist Gibraltar in respect of her border patrol or enforcement.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the detention and trial of General Nkunda; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Our ambassador in Kinshasa has discussed the future of Laurent Nkunda, who remains in detention in Rwanda, at recent meetings with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Foreign Minister. Rwandan and DRC officials are looking at the handling of this issue, which the Foreign Minister has assured us will not impede the normalisation of relations between the two states.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Fareham of 15 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1061W, on departmental mobile phones, what records his Department keeps on the number of communications devices lost by members of his Department.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office devolves the purchase and safekeeping of these items to its Directorates and Posts overseas. All users are required to sign a statement of responsibility, accepting financial liability for losses incurred through negligence. Losses are reported, recorded and managed locally. The information is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) of 15 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1061W, on departmental public expenditure, for what reason the administration allocation for the Jeddah post was reduced from 902,238 in 2007-08 to nil in 2008-09; how the post in Jeddah is now funded; what reductions there have been in  (a) services and  (b) staff numbers as a result of the change; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the change on the level of services provided to British citizens on Hajj.

Gillian Merron: The administration of all UK missions in Saudi Arabia has been centralised in our embassy Riyadh in order to streamline support work and to improve efficiency. The budget for Jeddah has consequently been amalgamated with that for Riyadh.
	The Consulate-General in Jeddah continues to offer consular assistance to British nationals in need, as well as a comprehensive trade and investment service.
	The previous post of UK management officer (UK diplomatic position) is now filled by a locally engaged member of staff in line with Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) practice, elsewhere.
	The administrative change does not affect the level of service provided to British citizens on Haj. A dedicated team of FCO officers, from our Consulate General in Jeddah, embassy in Riyadh and from the FCO in London, continue to deliver a high level of service successfully for the 2008 Haj.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) of 15 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1061W, on departmental public expenditure, for what reason the administration allocation for the New York Consulate-General was reduced from 2,361,293 in 2007-08 to nil in 2008-09; how the Consulate-General is now funded; what reductions there have been in  (a) services and  (b) staff numbers as a result of the change; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the change on (i) services provided to British citizens in the eastern United States and (ii) Anglo-American relations.

Caroline Flint: The administration allocation for all subsidiary posts in the US including Consulate-General New York is now allocated through our embassy in Washington, as the hub of the US network of posts. No public services have been reduced in New York as a result of this change and there has thus been no effect on services provided to British citizens in the Eastern US or to Anglo-American relations.

Departmental Stationery

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on branded stationery and gifts for  (a) internal and  (b) external promotional use in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: The following figures are for financial years (FYs) running from April to the following March.
	
		
			  Financial year   
			  Stationery  
			 2004-05 3,493,880.10 
			 2005-06 2,888,932.57 
			 2006-07 3,137,282.68 
			 2007-08 3,342,288.35 
			 2008-09 3,202,293.50 
			   
			  Gifts  
			 2004-05 8,832.84 
			 2005-06 8,291.46 
			 2006-07 13,831.94 
			 2007-08 13,749.76 
			 2008-09 16,998.87 
		
	
	We are not able to identify between branded stationery and all other stationery from our reports. The necessary research would incur disproportionate costs.
	We are also not able to identify between internal and external use from our reports. The necessary research would incur disproportionate costs.

East Africa: Diplomatic Service

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many diplomats from his Department are based in  (a) Sudan,  (b) Somalia and  (c) Ethiopia.

Caroline Flint: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently changing its Human Resources Management Information system. We are therefore unable to obtain the information to answer this question within the required time scale. We should be able to access the system again within two weeks and I will write to the right hon. Member then.

Somalia: Armed Conflict

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made an assessment of the accuracy of recent reports that Ethiopian troops have entered Somalia; and whether he has discussed such reports with the Ethiopian government.

Gillian Merron: We are aware of recent media reports that Ethiopian troops have entered Somalia. Bereket Simon, head of the Government of Ethiopia's Communications Agency, has denied these.
	The Ethiopian authorities have also told our embassy in Addis Ababa that there has been no political decision to re-enter Somalia and that, unless such a decision is made, only normal military border security operations will take place.

Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal advice he has received on whether the recent actions of the Sri Lankan Government constitute genocide.

Bill Rammell: The crime of genocide depends on certain acts; such as killing members of a group; having been committed with intent to destroy; in whole or in part; a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. Whether genocide has been committed would depend on a close investigation as to the facts and the motivation for the crimes alleged. Such information is not available at present.
	My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have been monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka closely, and have been greatly concerned at the reports of civilians killed in the fighting. They have voiced their concern about the situation and support the EU's call for an independent inquiry into allegations of violations of international law in the conflict.

Sri Lanka: Internally Displaced Persons

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the capacity of UN officials to access registers containing details of the internally displaced in camps in northern Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: We are aware of the continued difficulties that UN officials and aid agencies face in accessing registration lists for the people displaced by the recent conflict in Sri Lanka. In all our recent discussions with President Rajapakse and Foreign Minister Bogollagama, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I have urged the Sri Lankan government to allow full and unfettered access to internally displaced persons camps for the UN and other humanitarian agencies including access to the screening and registration process. We fully support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General in this regard, including his recent visit to Sri Lanka.

Turks and Caicos Islands

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands first informed his Department of his concerns relating to allegations of corruption within the government of those islands.

Gillian Merron: Successive Governors have reported to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) their concerns about rumours of corruption. The FCO has taken these reports seriously and monitored the situation closely. The challenge has always been to gather sufficient credible information to warrant further investigation. For example, a police investigation into allegations of corruption collapsed in March 2006 owing to a lack of evidence.
	As a result of substantive allegations of corruption reported to the Governor, together with the key role played by the Foreign Affairs Committee in encouraging people in the Turks and Caicos Islands to provide further information, the Governor established a Commission of Inquiry in July 2008.

Children: Day Care

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many child care places for children aged four years and under were available in each London local authority area in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2007-08.

Beverley Hughes: Information is not available specifically for children aged four years and under. Available information on children under eight years of age is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number( 1)  of registered child care places for children under eight years of age, position at 31 March each year 
			  Local authority area  1997( 2)  2008( 3) 
			  Inner London   
			 Camden 3,100 6,100 
			 City of London 300 500 
			 Hackney 7,400 7,900 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,800 4,800 
			 Haringey 4,900 5,700 
			 Islington 6,600 6,600 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 5,400 4,300 
			 Lambeth (4) 8,200 
			 Lewisham 5,600 7,900 
			 Newham 4,500 6,500 
			 Southwark 8,200 9,600 
			 Tower Hamlets (4) 4,700 
			 Wandsworth 11,600 9,300 
			 Westminster 6,200 4,700 
			
			  Outer London   
			 Barking and Dagenham 3,200 3,700 
			 Barnet 7,900 8,700 
			 Bexley 4,900 6,200 
			 Brent 5,000 6,300 
			 Bromley 8,300 10,800 
			 Croydon 8,300 12,100 
			 Ealing 6,500 7,900 
			 Enfield 6,100 7,400 
			 Greenwich 3,900 8,200 
			 Harrow 4,700 5,200 
			 Havering 5,200 5,500 
			 Hillingdon 5,700 6,600 
			 Hounslow 5,600 5,300 
			 Kingston upon Thames 5,500 5,100 
			 Merton 6,600 5,700 
			 Red bridge 6,200 7,100 
			 Richmond upon Thames 9,400 6,900 
			 Sutton 4,300 5,400 
			 Waltham Forest 3,200 7,500 
			 (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 if under 100, and to the nearest 100 if over 100. (2) Data Source: Children's Daycare Facilities Surveytotal includes day nurseries, playgroups and pre-schools, child minders, out of school clubs and holiday schemes. (3) Data Source: Ofstedtotal includes full daycare, sessional daycare, child minders, out of school clubs and crche daycare. (4) Data not available.

Children: Mental Health Services

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent assessment is of his Department's progress in meeting its target of having no children placed on adult mental health wards by 2010.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	Section 31(3) of the Mental Health Act 2007, which the Government are committed to commencing in England by April 2010, places a duty on hospital managers to ensure that 18s are treated in an environment which is suitable having regard to their age (subject to their needs).
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1238W, where figures were provided for the number of bed-days for under 18s on child and adolescent mental health services and adult psychiatric wards, and these showed that in quarter 3 of 2008-09, the latest quarter for which data are available there were no bed-days for under 16-year-olds in adult psychiatric wards and 2,918 bed-days for 16 to 17-year-olds on adult psychiatric wards. This represents less than 7 per cent. of the total bed-days young people spent on psychiatric wards in this period, a significant reduction from 12 per cent. in 2006-07. We are continuing to monitor progress on this issue.
	The National Mental Health Development Unit is currently undertaking a programme of awareness raising, self-assessment and support for trusts on this issue.
	 Note
	A bed-day is a day during which a person is confined to a bed and in which the patient stays overnight in a hospital.

Economic and Monetary Union

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what activities have been undertaken by his Department's Euro Minister in that capacity.

Jim Knight: Ministers from this Department represent the UK at the regular meetings of EU Education and Youth Councils, and at informal meetings of EU Education Ministers.
	In 2009, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State (Sarah McCarthy-Fry) attended Youth Council on 16 February. I attended an informal meeting of EU Education Ministers in Prague on 22-23 March, at which we discussed a Czech presidency paper about the role of education for recovery and long term development; and the issue of fostering stronger links between education institutions and employers.
	I also attended EU Education and Youth Council in Brussels on 11-12 May which discussed the future EU Youth Co-operation Framework. We also agreed conclusions on improving partnerships between educational institutions and employers; and on a new strategic framework for co-operation between member states in education and training in Europe in the period up to 2020.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent estimate is of the number of children in households with annual income above 30,810 in receipt of education maintenance allowance (EMA) under the EMA guarantee.

Jim Knight: The EMA Guarantee was introduced in the current academic year of 2008/09 and relates to entitlement in future years. No young person will receive EMA under the guarantee before academic year 2009/10.
	Under the terms of the guarantee, a successful assessment of eligibility based on household income will entitle the learner to up to three years of EMA on the same rate, as long as they enrol on valid provision and keep to their learning contract. Since September 2008, all young people receiving income assessed EMA will be clear what financial support they will be entitled to if they continue in post 16 learning and meet the agreed requirements relating to attendance, behaviour, and progress on their course.

GCE A-Level: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in the London Borough of Bexley completed  (a) AS and  (b) A level courses in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: The information available is given in the table:
	
		
			  16 to 18-year-old candidates who were entered for level 3 qualifications at least equivalent in size to one GCE/VCE A-level 
			   Number 
			 2008 1,303 
			 2007 1,191 
			 2006 1,104 
			  Source: Achievement and Attainment Tables. 
		
	
	Figures are for the maintained sector only: maintained schools and further education colleges.
	Similar reliable data for AS-level figures cannot be provided as the point at which students 'complete their AS-level' study is hard to define. The final number of AS-levels recorded will depend on when, or whether, students decide to 'cash-in' their AS-levels.

Members Correspondence: Learning and Skills Council

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 7 April 2009 on Learning and Skills Council funding;
	(2)  when the Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 7 April 2009 on funding.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: A response to the letter to the Secretary of State, signed by Jim Knight, was sent to the hon. Member on 27 May 2009.
	The Learning and Skills Council has been focused on resolving allocations for schools, colleges and independent training providers. Letters with revised allocations for 2009/10, including the letter to the hon. Member will be issued as soon as possible after the period of sensitivity around elections.

Primary Education

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what his most recent estimate is of the number of primary school children expected to transfer to the state sector from the independent sector in the academic year 2009-10;
	(2)  what his most recent estimate is of the number of primary school children who will transfer to state education from abroad in the academic year 2009-10;
	(3)  how many primary school children have  (a) transferred to the state sector from the independent sector and  (b) transferred to the state sector from abroad in each of the last 10 years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: holding answer 8 May 2009
	The Department makes no estimate of the number of primary school children expected to transfer to the state sector from the independent sector, or who will transfer to state education from abroad. Nor does the Department collect data on the number of primary school children that have transferred to the state sector from  (a) the independent sector or  (b) abroad.

Pupil Exclusions

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many pupils in each local authority area were excluded for more than  (a) five,  (b) 10,  (c) 15,  (d) 20,  (e) 25,  (f) 30,  (g) 35,  (h) 40,  (i) 45 and  (j) 50 days in the last school year for which data are available;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of pupils in each local authority area who were eligible for free school meals were excluded for more than  (a) five,  (b) 10,  (c) 15,  (d) 20,  (e) 25,  (f) 30,  (g) 35,  (h) 40,  (i) 45 and  (j) 50 days in the last school year for which data are available;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of primary school pupils in each local authority area were excluded for more than  (a) five,  (b) 10,  (c) 15,  (d) 20,  (e) 25,  (f) 30,  (g) 35,  (h) 40,  (i) 45 and  (j) 50 days in the last school year for which data are available;
	(4)  how many and what proportion of secondary school pupils in each local authority area were excluded for more than  (a) five,  (b) 10,  (c) 15,  (d) 20,  (e) 25,  (f) 30,  (g) 35,  (h) 40,  (i) 45 and  (j) 50 days in the last school year for which data are available.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information available, on pupil enrolments, for 2006/07 has been placed in the House Libraries. A small proportion of pupils have more than one enrolment i.e. if they move school during the year or are registered at more than one school. The analysis is based on the duration of exclusions per enrolment.
	Figures are as reported by schools.
	It is possible that some permanent exclusions have been miscoded as fixed period exclusions.
	I am aware that the statistics show that a number of pupils were excluded for longer than the statutory 45 day limit for fixed period exclusions in any one school year. The Department is concerned that a small number of schools have not met their legal duties in this regard, and has written to relevant local authorities to remind them of the need to monitor and challenge schools who have acted unlawfully in this respect.

Pupil Exclusions: Disadvantaged

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils have been given a fixed period exclusion for attacks on  (a) pupils and  (b) teachers in (i) National Challenge schools and (ii) schools in each decile of area deprivation in each of the last three years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The readily available information relates to the number of fixed period exclusions (not the number of pupils) from schools in each decile of area deprivation, where the reason for exclusion was physical assault on a pupil or physical assault on an adult (including, but not only, teachers), and is shown in the table.
	In 2005/06, data on fixed period exclusions were collected from secondary schools only; therefore, the data is not comparable to other years and has not been provided.
	In 2004/05 data were collected via the Termly Exclusions Survey. In 2006/07 data were collected via the School Census for 2006/07. Caution is needed when comparing results from the two sources, which have some differences in scope.
	The National Challenge programme was launched on 10 June 2008; schools are being supported under the National Challenge to raise pupil attainmenteach according to specific local need, including any problems of exclusion. The latest available data on exclusions is for 2006/07; there were no National Challenge schools at that time and therefore data has not been provided.
	
		
			  Primary, secondary and special schoolsnumber of fixed period exclusions for physical assaults on pupils or adults( 1) 2004/05 and 2006/07England 
			   2004/05( 2,3,4)  2006/07( 5,6) 
			  IDACI band of school:  Physical assault on an adult  Physical assault on a pupil  Physical assault on an adult  Physical assault on a pupil 
			 0-10 2,630 8,220 2,940 8,900 
			 10-20 2,570 9,010 2,440 8,370 
			 20-30 2,440 10,500 2,370 9,920 
			 30-40 2,070 9,200 2,040 8,250 
			 40-50 2,010 8,950 1,970 9,090 
			 50-60 1,360 6,820 1,480 7,240 
			 60-70 1,490 8,200 1,620 7,800 
			 70-80 1,420 7,370 1,420 7,760 
			 80-90 1,290 6,680 1,250 6,500 
			 90-100 1,190 5,720 1,060 5,350 
			 Total(7) 18,490 80,700 18,590 79,180 
			 (1) Number of fixed period exclusions where the reason for exclusion was physical assault on a pupil or physical assault on an adult. (2) Excludes city technology colleges and academies. (3) Includes maintained special schools only. (4) Information on fixed period exclusions has been derived from the Termly Exclusions Survey. (5) Includes both maintained and non-maintained special schools, and city technology colleges and academies. (6) Information on fixed period exclusions has been derived from the School Census. (7) Totals for 2004/05 include 73 exclusions where the IDACI band of the school could not be determined.  Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: Termly Exclusions Survey and School Census.

Pupils: Biometrics

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how much expenditure his Department has incurred in facilitating the collection of biometric data in schools to date;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure the secure holding of biometric data gathered by schools;
	(3)  how many maintained schools in each region use biometric devices.

Jim Knight: No expenditure has been incurred by the Department, this is a decision which is made entirely within each school, and each school finds resources from within existing school budgets.
	Schools are responsible for the security of personal data under the Data Protection Act. The lead agency for technology in schools, Becta, has provided data security guidance for schools which emphasises their legal responsibilities.
	Data on numbers of schools in each region is not collected centrally, the decision to use biometric devices is left to individual schools, and no central funding is provided.

Teachers: Males

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families at how many and what proportion of maintained  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools fewer than (i) 1 per cent., (ii) 10 per cent., (iii) 20 per cent. and (iv) 30 per cent. of the fully-qualified teaching staff were male in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information cannot be provided for all the years requested on the grounds of disproportionate cost. 1997 and 2008 figures are provided within the following table.
	The following table shows how many and what proportion of local authority maintained primary and secondary schools in England employed fewer than 1 per cent., 10 per cent., 20 per cent. and 30 per cent. qualified full-time equivalent male teachers, January 1997 and 2008.
	
		
			  Number and proportion of maintained nursery/primary and secondary schools with fewer than 1 per cent., 10 per cent., 20 per cent. and 30 per cent. full-time equivalent qualified male teachers, January 1997 and 2008, England 
			   1997  2008 
			   Nursery/P rimary  Secondary( 1)  Nursery/Primary  Secondary( 1) 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Less than 1 per cent. 5,280 27.9 0 0.0 4,670 26.5 (2) 0.1 
			 Less than 10 per cent. 6,760 35.7 (2) 0.1 6,800 38.5 10 0.3 
			 Less than 20 per cent. 11,920 63.0 80 2.1 12,390 70.2 70 2.2 
			 Less than 30 per cent. 16,210 85.6 280 7.9 15,930 90.2 360 11.0 
			 (1) Excludes academies. (2) Between one and four schools.  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

Truancy

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many parents in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) England have appeared in court on charges related to unauthorised absences from school of their children in the last (i) six, (ii) 12 and (iii) 24 months.

Jim Knight: The Ministry of Justice collects data for England and Wales on prosecutions brought against parents under the Education Act 1996 for the offence under s444(1) of failing to secure their child's regular attendance at school; and for prosecutions under s444(1A), the aggravated offence of knowing that their child is failing to attend school regularly. It is possible, because of the way courts record data that some data is collected under the more general heading of various offences under the Education Act 1996.
	The information on the number of parents prosecuted by local authorities in England and Lancashire for failing to secure their children's regular school attendance between 2006 and 2007 (latest available data) is detail in the following table.
	
		
			  N umber of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under the Education Act 1996 S.444, in the Lancashire police force area, and England, 2006 to 2007( 1,2) 
			Lancashire police force area  England 
			  Statute  Offence description  2006  2007  2006  2007 
			 Education Act 1996 S.444 (1)(8) Failure to secure regular attendance at school. 182 249 4,437 5,903 
			 Education Act 1996 S.444(8)(la)(8a) added by Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 S.72. Parent knows that their child is failing to attend school regularly and fails without reasonable justification to cause him or her to attend school. 46 43 1,559 1,840 
			 (1) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Evidence and Analysis UnitOffice for Criminal Justice Reform, Ministry of Justice

Young People's Learning Agency

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he expects the Young People's Learning Agency to be set up; and what mechanisms there will be for the agency to co-operate with specialist independent post-16 institutions.

Jim Knight: Independent Specialist providers of post-16 education and training play an important role in providing education for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities, often with very specific needs and requirements. We recognise the value of having a diverse mix of high quality providers that ensures that our young people are able to access the right course or provision to help them realise their goals and ambitions. We do not feel it is appropriate to centrally guarantee funding streams for particular institutions. Local authorities will need to work in partnership with each other, providers and young people and their families to assess the level of demand in their area and to commission suitable provision that meets young people's needs.
	Provision has been made in clause 40 of the ASCL Bill to require local authorities, when commissioning provision, to take account of the quality of provision being secured and encourage diversity in the range of education and training on offer to support learner choice. In addition, in deciding whether education and training is suitable to meet young people's reasonable needs, local authorities will be required to have regard to any learning difficulties the persons may have.
	We believe that the transfer to local authorities will have significant benefits in terms of a more informed and integrated commissioning of their services leading to better outcomes for learners. Arrangements are being developed, in consultation with stakeholders, that recognise that independent specialist colleges will often work across local authority boundaries and nationally, and consideration is being given to the need to minimise bureaucracy for these and other learning providers. These arrangements will feed into the statutory guidance being developed for local authorities in respect of their commissioning responsibilities which the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) will publish when it comes into being in April 2010, subject to the passage of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning (ASCL) Bill.
	We do not expect the YPLA to be involved in the commissioning of learning provision in the vast majority of cases, although there may be some circumstances where it may need to commission provision directly, for instance:
	where a local authority is failing or looks likely to fail in fulfilling its duties under clauses 40 and 47 of the Bill to commission suitable education or training;
	with a small number of national providers for whom it may be appropriate to commission at a national rather than local level; and
	where the sub regional group (SRG) identifies that they are not yet ready to take on the role.
	In those cases, the YPLA will need to engage those providers, including specialist colleges, to ensure that they are commissioned effectively in response to the needs of young people.